News Release: Opportunity for Students to Receive Their Routine and Recommended Vaccines

NORTH BAY, ON – Parents/caregivers with school-aged children can expect to receive information through their child’s school about routine vaccine clinics being offered by the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (Health Unit). In-school clinics will start in October for grades 7 and 8 and in December for high school students. Parents and caregivers with students of any age can also choose to book appointments through their child’s health care provider, ensuring the health care provider forwards the information to the Health Unit.

According to the Immunization of School Pupils Act, students aged four to 17 must be vaccinated to attend school in the province of Ontario. The Health Unit, in conjunction with school boards across the Nipissing and Parry Sound Districts, work together to ensure students are up to date on their routine and recommended vaccines.

Students in grades 7 and 8 are eligible for one required vaccine, meningitis (Men-C-ACYW-135), and two recommended vaccines, hepatitis B (Hep B) and human papilloma virus (HPV).

Due to the COVID pandemic, many students missed receiving these vaccines in Grade 7. The province has extended the eligibility for students born in 2006, 2007, or 2008 to receive the Hep B vaccine, and for those born in 2002, 2003, and 2004 to receive the HPV vaccine. These students have until August 31, 2023, to receive these vaccines free of charge at an upcoming school clinic, by their primary care provider or by making an appointment at the Health Unit.

“We know parents and caregivers are doing the best they can. Sometimes they don’t realize their school-aged child’s vaccinations aren’t up-to-date. This is why we give families opportunities to check their records, get vaccinated and update the records, if necessary,” explains Marlene Campsall, Manager Vaccine Preventable Diseases.

Parents and caregivers can learn which vaccines their child is behind on by checking their immunization record online at myhealthunit.ca/VaccinationRecord, or by calling the Health Unit. Vaccines that were completed at a health care providers’ office may not have been shared with public health. If this is the case, please have your health care provider share the record with the Health Unit.

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Quick Facts

• HPV is the most commonly sexually transmitted infection in the world and is the primary cause of cervical cancer in women and is associated with the throat, anal, and penile cancers.
• Hepatitis B is a vaccine-preventable liver infection caused by the hepatitis B virus (HBV). For many people, hepatitis B is a short-term illness. For others, it can become a long-term, chronic infection that can lead to serious, even life-threatening health issues like cirrhosis or liver cancer.

Media Inquiries:

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