For Immediate Release
March 17, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. | Windsor and Essex County
The following statement can be attributed to the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU):
“The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) (1990), Section 11, Subsections (1) and (2) require public health units to maintain and review immunization records for every student attending school in Ontario; and to enforce a school suspension on students with incomplete immunization records. As of March 17th, 2025, 618 Windsor and Essex County secondary students are being excluded from school for up to 20 days or until they have complied with the ISPA.
In the fall of 2024, immunization records of all secondary students in Windsor and Essex County were reviewed (20,496 records). Today, approximately 97% of these students are up to date with the ISPA requirements, and 3% continue to have incomplete records.
In addition, 129 elementary school students remain suspended since March 3rd, 2025.
Students who have been suspended are required to provide the WECHU with records for missing immunizations and/or a valid exemption. Once a parent/guardian provides the student’s updated immunization information to the health unit:
- The student’s immunization record will be updated in the provincial database,
- The student can return to school immediately (note that an official rescind letter from the WECHU is required for same-day returns), and
- The student will be removed from the school’s suspension list on the next business day.
The WECHU is here to help affected families. Services are available 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at our Windsor and Leamington offices. Families are encouraged to visit www.wechu.org/getimmunized for more information. Updated immunization records can also be submitted online at immune.wechu.org (note that proof of immunization must be provided as an attachment).
Families can reach out to their health care provider to receive immunizations and/or obtain missing immunization information. Families can request that their health care provider then fax updated immunization records to the WECHU at 519-258-7288.”