The 2017-2018 School Immunization Coverage Report for Ontario students shows Grey Bruce has high immunization coverage rates.
Those rates are essential to prevent outbreaks of diseases such as measles and meningitis.
For seven-year-olds, Grey Bruce has a measles immunization coverage rate of 94.5 per cent, well above the provincial average of 87.6 per cent.
Grey Bruce 17-year-olds have a whooping cough coverage rate of 83.2 per cent, while Ontario wide it is 72.1 per cent.
The report identifies Grey Bruce having a non-medical exemption rate for 17-year-olds of 3.8 per cent, slightly higher than the Ontario rate of 2.5 per cent. Non-medical exemptions are issued to parents who for religious or conscientious reasons, choose not to vaccinate their children.
Measles and pertussis along with mumps, rubella, tetanus, polio, diphtheria, meningitis, varicella (chickenpox) are required immunizations to attend school in Ontario.
“The Grey Bruce Health Unit and local doctors have worked diligently to ensure high immunization coverage rates in our region – and the numbers reflect this hard work,” said Grey Bruce Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Arra. “While Grey Bruce isn’t immune to outbreaks, such as measles, the high immunization rates serve us well in protecting the majority of children in our community.”
“The exemption rate is of concern and we are looking at ways to increase parental confidence in the immunization system as a whole,” said Vaccine Preventable Diseases Program Manager Sarah Ellis. “All parents want the best for their children. Parents with concerns about immunizations, should speak to their health care provider or a trusted health care professional."
