Some Windsor-Essex students may soon find themselves suspended for having missing or incomplete immunization records.
The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) reported Wednesday afternoon that 2,593 elementary school students had either not received their required immunizations, submitted valid exemption requests, or had incomplete records. Those students risk suspension from school if there is non-compliance by February 28.
That number has been cut by over half since the first notices went out in September 2023.
"In the fall of 2023, the WECHU completed a review of all student immunization records and sent out 6,448 notices to elementary students indicating that they were either overdue for vaccines required to attend school or their immunization records were not updated with the WECHU," read the notice from the health unit.
To help students get those missing shots, the health unit is operating clinics, many with evening and Saturday hours.
Parents can help avoid suspension by contacting their healthcare provider for any incomplete documentation and then sending it to the health unit. Parents can do so online, and there is an instructional YouTube video available.
Complete information about immunizations can be found on the health unit's official website.