News Release: It’s Time to Get Up-to-Date with School Aged Vaccines

NIPISSING & PARRY SOUND, ON - Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many students are behind on their routine vaccinations required for school. The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit) is working with local school boards across the Nipissing and Parry Sound districts to offer opportunities for school-aged children to get up-to-date with their vaccines.

Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, students aged four to 17 must be vaccinated to attend school in the province of Ontario, or risk suspension. Due to the pandemic, students will not be suspended this year, but are still required to be caught up on vaccinations.

“The last two years have been very stressful and we don’t want to add to that stress. That’s why we are giving students time this year to get their vaccines without the risk of suspension,” explains Marlene Campsall, Manager of the Health Unit’s Vaccine Preventable Disease program. “Health Units are required to maintain complete vaccination records for every student in their district, and we expect to return to the regular vaccine requirements next school year. Vaccination is the best way to protect your child against many dangerous diseases like measles, mumps and meningitis.

The Health Unit has reviewed the vaccination records for all elementary and secondary students in the district and have mailed letters to those who are behind on their vaccines. Parents can review their child’s vaccination records online at myhealthunit.ca/vaccinationrecord using the Immunization Connect Ontario Tool.

If a student has received their vaccines at their health care provider’s office and received a notice from the Health Unit that they are overdue, they should contact the health care provider’s office to have them send the updated records to the Health Unit.

The Health Unit will be holding school-aged vaccine clinics in community locations for students in Mattawa, North Bay, Sundridge and West Nipissing. In-school clinics will be held in the Town of Parry Sound. All community clinics will accept walk-ins, but appointments are preferred. Upcoming clinics include:

Mattawa:

• Saturday, April 30 at the Mattawa Golden Age Club (476 Poplar St., Mattawa), from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

North Bay:

• Saturday, June 4 at the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (345 Oak St. W., North Bay), from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Sundridge:

• Saturday, May 14 at SSJ Arena (14 Albert St. N., Sundridge), from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

West Nipissing:

• Saturday, May 7 at the Marcel Noël Hall (219 O’Hara St., Sturgeon Falls), from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

To book an appointment call 1-800-563-2808 Option 7. For further information on the program, please see our website at www.myhealthunit.ca.

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Quick Facts

How to update your child’s information:

• It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure the Health Unit has all of their child’s vaccination information. Health care providers may not have forwarded this information to the Health Unit.
• If the student’s yellow card lists all the vaccinations they have had, the parent can provide the Health Unit with a copy.
• Parents can review and update their child’s vaccination records online at myhealthunit.ca/vaccinationrecord using the Immunization Connect Ontario Tool.
• If a vaccination appointment has been made, but a vaccination has not been administered, the student may still receive a vaccination notice.

If your child needs vaccinations:

• Call the Health Unit to make an appointment or if you have questions at 1-800-563-2808 Option 7.
• Vaccinations at a health care provider’s office must still be forwarded to the Health Unit, to ensure records are accurately updated.

Media Inquiries:

Alex McDermid, Public Relations Specialist
P: 705-474-1400, ext. 5221 or 1-800-563-2808
E: communications@healthunit.ca