Nearly 3K elementary students suspended due to out-of-date vaccination records

Thousands of elementary school students are at home Wednesday because of out-of-date vaccination records.

Region of Waterloo Public Health had sent suspension notices out to over 27,000 students back in November and December, with Wednesday, Mar. 27 listed as suspension day.

2,969 elementary school students have not yet updated those vaccination records and will have to do so in the coming days, before they can get back in the classroom.

“We have made remarkable progress from the original 27,567 immunization notices we sent to parents in November and December 2023,” said Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, medical officer of health.

“Since that time, we have resolved more than 24,500 outdated vaccination records, providing students with valuable protection against these serious and preventable diseases.”

The Immunization of School Pupils Act requires all elementary and secondary school students to have proof of vaccination for diphtheria, polio, tetanus, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (chickenpox) and meningitis.

Records of the above vaccinations or a valid exemption must be on file with public health.

Local public health said it could take some time to get those vaccinations due to the amount of kids suspended.

The suspension date for secondary school students is May 1.

Details on how to get those vaccination records up to date can be found here.