More and more Windsor-Essex elementary school students are returning to class after filling holes in their immunization records.
As of noon Monday, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) reported 321 students in kindergarten-through-Grade-8 who were still suspended due to incomplete or missing vaccine records. Complete immunization files are required under Ontario law to continue attending school.
"Most students who were issued a suspension order have updated their immunization records and have returned to school now that they are in compliance with the Immunization of School Pupils Act [ISPA]," read the release from the health unit. "For more information on remaining compliant with the ISPA, parents are encouraged to visit the health unit’s website."
Following a deadline a week ago, a total of 1,908 K-8 students were told to stay home.
Parents have been asked to obtain any missing immunizations, submit missing records, or submit a valid exemption. Once one of those requirements is met and sent to the health unit, the record will be updated. Once the WECHU notifies parents of the update, the student's name will be removed from the suspension list and they can return to class.
Immunizations can be administered by their primary health care provider or through catch-up clinics hosted by the health unit. The clinics are being offered at the health unit in Windsor and Leamington until the end of March.
Parents who need guidance from the health unit on anything related to immunizations may call a public health nurse at (519) 960-0231.