Suspensions

The health unit is required under the Immunization of School Pupil’s Act (ISPA) to collect and maintain up-to-date records of immunization for every student registered in school in Simcoe County and Muskoka District. The ISPA states that parents are required to provide the health unit with proof of completed immunization or with the appropriate documentation if they choose not to have their child immunized. This act also states that all students who do not provide their immunization information to the health unit may be suspended from school until immunization information is received.

Students can be suspended from school for up to 20 days. If information is not received at the end of the 20 day suspension period a second, consecutive suspension can be enforced until the immunization information is received by the health unit. It is very important to ensure that the health unit has up-to-date immunization information for your child on file.

Why is it important to keep my child’s immunization record up to date?

• Some children are unable to be immunized because their immune systems are too weak for the vaccine to work properly. These children are most often suffering from a medical condition that can prevent them from fighting off disease. It is important to protect these children who are already at risk.
• If an outbreak of disease occurs at the school or day nursery your child attends, the health unit can assess records and quickly notify the parents/guardians of children who may be at risk for disease.
• Vaccines are safe and continue to be one of the most important means of preventing illness and disease.
• If immunization rates in our area decrease, diseases that continue to cause severe illness and death around the world will return.

If you choose not to vaccinate your child for medical, religious, or conscious beliefs an exemption form must be completed in full and the original must be returned to the health unit. The original exemption forms must be obtained by contacting the health unit.

It is important to contact the health unit each time your child receives immunization(s) from your health care provider. Health care providers do not contact the health unit when they provide immunization to students.

Updating a Record