More than 2,800 students in Brantford, Brant County and Haldimand-Norfolk face suspension over immunization records

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Almost 3,000 students in Brantford, Brant County and Haldimand-Norfolk could be suspended over their immunization records.

Grand Erie Public Health (GEPH), formerly the Brant County Health Unit and Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit, has issued suspension orders to elementary and secondary students who have not met the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requirements. The suspension orders will take effect March 25, after multiple reminders were sent out since July 2024.

In total, GEPH has issued 2,006 suspension orders for Brantford-Brant students in cohorts 2008, 2013, and 2017 and 829 orders for Haldimand-Norfolk students in the same cohorts.

Under Ontario’s ISPA, students aged 4-17 must provide proof of routine childhood immunizations, including shots for tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningitis, and, for children born in 2010 and after, varicella. Any student who does not have the required vaccinations needs to have a valid exemption. GEPH said it is the responsibility of parents and guardians to report these immunizations to public health officials.

“Ensuring that all students are up to date with their immunizations is crucial for the health and safety of our school communities,” said Dr. Malcolm Lock, acting medical officer of health for GEPH. “By enforcing the Immunization of School Pupils Act, we aim to protect students from vaccine-preventable diseases by maintaining high immunization coverage rates. We urge parents and guardians to review their children’s immunization records and report any updates or deficiencies to public health promptly.”

Parents and guardians can report both historical and newly received immunization records by visiting www.bchu.org/emunization or www.hnhu.org/immunization_reporting.