Approximately half of students across Windsor-Essex are without the required vaccinations or haven't provided documentation, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit says.
Due to resource issues at the health unit, they've never suspended students for not having the required shots.
Healthy schools manager Judy Allen says this will be the first year suspensions will take place.
"It's really important that as many kids as we can get immunized because it does protect those who are either too young to be immunized or have a medical condition and can't be immunized," Allen says.
Allen says at least three warning letters will be sent home requesting students be vaccinated and that information be forwarded to the health unit.
Once the health unit feels its database is accurate, that's when Allen says suspensions will begin. She says that could start near the end of the school year or possibly in September.
In most cases Allen says parents simply don't realize they must submit vaccination records to the health unit directly because it's not automatically done by their physician.
In some cases exemptions may be warranted for medical or philosophical reasons.
"For instance, for a child who has an allergic reaction to a specific vaccine. The other type is called a conscious exemption and it's for religious or philosophical reasons," Allen says, which requires legal documents to be sent to the health unit.
Parents can submit their child's immunization records using the online form, by faxing 519-258-7288, by calling 519-258-2146 ext. 1222 or going to the health unit in Windsor, Essex or Leamington.
