By: Saeed Akhtar, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Lakeshore News Reporter
More than 1,000 elementary students in Windsor and Essex County have been suspended from school for up to 20 days due to incomplete immunization records, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) announced Monday.
Under Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), public health units are required to review and maintain immunization records for all students and enforce suspensions for those who do not meet immunization requirements.
Following a review of 45,139 student records in the fall of 2024, approximately 98 per cent of elementary students in the region are up to date, while two per cent—1,016 students—remain non-compliant and have been temporarily excluded from school.
Suspended students can return to school once their immunization records are updated with the WECHU or a valid exemption is provided. Parents and guardians must submit proof of immunization, after which:
The student’s record is updated in the provincial database.
The student can return to school immediately with an official rescind letter from WECHU.
The student is removed from the school’s suspension list on the next business day.
“We understand that this process may be challenging for some families, and we are here to help,” the health unit said in a statement.
The WECHU is offering support services at its Windsor and Leamington offices from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. Immunization records can be updated online at immune.wechu.org, and families can also visit wechu.org/getimmunized for more information.
Parents are encouraged to contact their health care provider for missing immunization records or to receive required vaccines. Health care providers can fax updated immunization records directly to WECHU at 519-258-7288.
Be the first to comment