According to the Immunization of School Pupils Act, students must be adequately immunized against the following diseases:

• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Polio
• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella

How is this information collected and what is done with it?

The Vaccine Preventable Diseases Program staff are responsible for collecting immunization information for children enrolled in licensed child care centres and for the 25,000+ students aged 4 to 18 attending schools in the Municipality of Chatham-Kent. After the information is collected, it is entered into a Ministry of Health computer program called "IRIS", which stands for "Immunization Records Information System". This program is used throughout the Province of Ontario. The information in the record is confidential, shared only with a parent or guardian, the Ministry of Health and your child's school principal if we order him/her to suspend your child because you have not provided us with this immunization information requested.

How can I remember what shots my children have received?

Make sure that all your children's shots are recorded on their yellow card. Keeping the yellow card together with the Ontario Health Card is one way of making sure your children's documents are handy. It is a smart choice to keep your shots up to date.

Your immunization record or "yellow card", keeps track of and lists all immunization shots you have received in the past. A complete and up-to-date yellow card becomes an important document. There are times when you will be asked for it, such as when you go for urgent or emergency treatment, when you register for school, summer camp, college, university, and more often now, when you are accepted for a new job. If you don't already have one, obtaining a yellow card is easily done, just ask your family doctor or call Public Health Services.

Once you have obtained the card, you need to track down the information to record in it. Your doctor may have a record of shots you have received in the past, If not, call Public Health Services for help. They may have your record if you were a student in the area. If you are not originally from this area, they can give you some ideas about tracking the information down. When your record is complete, show it to your doctor to see if your immunizations are up to date. Maybe you are due for a booster. This is also a good opportunity to discuss whether some of the new vaccines, such as Hepatitis B and the flu shot, are for you.

When is this information being collected and when will I as a parent know about it?

Every year, Health Units across Ontario must access immunization records for every child attending licensed childcare centres and children aged 4 to 18 attending schools. Notices are sent to parents through the childcare centres and school system. Notices are only sent to those parents whose child is either due for a needle, or we have an incomplete immunization record on file or no Ontario Health Card Number. Please note that it is the parent's responsibility to notify Public Health Services when a child receives a needle. Physicians can provide parents with an immunization record (yellow card), but they are not required to call Public Health Services each time a child receives a vaccine.

What do I do if this form says that the Health Unit has no immunization record for my child?

There are many reasons why Public Health Services may not have any immunization records for your child

If your child has just entered the school system or your family has moved from another area it could be that we have not yet collected this information. Sometimes a name change or an incorrect date of birth or health card number can cause changes in our records.

If your child's immunization record is up to date, check your yellow card or call your doctor so that you can accurately fill out the form. If you think that we should already have this information please call the Public Health Unit and together we can try to sort things out. Just remember that even though all Health Units in the Province collect the same information it is not automatically transferred from one geographical location to another.

What do I do if this form says that my child is missing some needles?

If you think your child may have received the needles that we are asking for, please check your yellow card or call your doctor to get the correct dates to fill out the form. If your child has not received the needles that we are asking for, make an appointment with your doctor to get your child immunized. Don't forget to fill in the form with the correct information and return it to the Public Health Unit.

If your child is in high school, immunization clinics will be held in each school and parents will be notified of the dates. If you are having difficulty making an appointment with your doctor, please call Public Health at 352-7270 to find out about our community clinics.

What does it mean when this form says my child will be suspended?

Public Health makes every attempt to give parents at least two months to ensure their child's immunization record is up to date. If you fail to contact us after we have attempted to reach you several times your child will be suspended from school until you provide us with the requested information. Suspensions are few, since we make every effort to get the needed immunization information from you before issuing a suspension order for your child.

I don't want my child immunized, what can I do to prevent this?

If a parent does not wish to have their child immunized, an affidavit can be signed opposing immunization on conscientious or religious grounds. Physicians can also sign exemption forms based on medical reasons. Medical exemption forms are available at the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit and can be picked up by parents. Conscientious/religious exemptions can also be obtained at Public Health but the signature of the parent must be witnessed. Persons authorized to sign affidavids, under the Commissioners for taking Affidavits Act (Revised 1990) include:

In Ontario: (Sec. 1. (1))

• Member of the Assembly
• Provincial judges or justices of the peace
• Barristers and solicitors entitled to practice law in Ontario
• Local municipality: (Sec. 1. (2))
• Medical Officer of Health (area with population > 100,000)
• Administrative heads (building standards, welfare, assessment or planning)
• Clerks, deputy clerks and treasurers of local municipalities
• Heads of municipal councils, reeves of towns, deputy reeves, members of city council.

What happens to my child in the event of an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease in their school?

If a child is unimmunized and a Statement of Medical Exemption or Statement of Conscious or Religious Belief is on file with the local Health Unit, parents should understand the future consequences. If an outbreak or threat of outbreak of any of the vaccine preventable diseases exists, non-immune students may be excluded from school by an order written by the Medical Officer of Health (Sec. 12.1.) The order remains in force until rescinded in writing by the Medical Officer of Health (Sec. 12.3.), when he/she is satisfied that the outbreak or the immediate risk of the outbreak of the designated disease has ended (Sec. 12.4).

Immunization plays an important role in protecting you and your community from preventable disease.

For more information, contact the Chatham-Kent Public Health Unit at 519-355-1071 ext. 5900 or online at CKhealth@chatham-kent.ca