The goal of the Immunization standard is to eliminate the burden of vaccine preventable diseases through immunization.
According to the OPHS, boards of health must ensure effective inventory management for provincially funded vaccines, timely and effective outbreak management related to vaccine preventable disease, and access to provincially funded immunization programs and services through community and school based clinics. In addition, the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires boards of health to assess the immunization records of students in schools to determine coverage rates, and enforce the requirements of the ISPA.
Local data that influences program implementation include:
- In the 2017/18 school year, coverage estimates in 7-year olds met the national average of 95% for two diseases (meningococcal disease and rubella).
- In the 2017/18 school year, coverage estimates in 12-year olds did not meet the national goal of 90% for meningococcal disease, hepatitis B, and human papilloma virus.
- In the 2017/18 school year, coverage estimates in 17-year olds met the national goal for measles, mumps, and rubella.
- Vaccine preventable diseases (e.g., Chickenpox) were the third most common type of diseases of public health significance reported in Windsor and Essex County in 2018, accounting for 11% of all reportable cases.