News Release: Elementary Students in Windsor and Essex County with Incomplete Immunization Records Risk Suspension

For Immediate Release 
Wednesday, January 31, 2024 | 2:00 p.m. | Windsor and Essex County

As of January 31, 2024 there are 2,593 elementary school students that are at risk of school suspension on March 1^st, 2024 due to missing vaccinations or immunization records that have not yet been submitted to the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) as required by the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) R.S.O.1990 (ISPA). The deadline for parents/guardians to submit student immunization records to the WECHU is 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday February 28, 2024.

In the fall of 2023, the WECHU completed a review of all student immunization records and sent out 6,448 notices to elementary students indicating that they were either overdue for vaccines required to attend school, or their immunization records were not updated with the WECHU. Families who recently received suspension notices are encouraged to contact their health care provider or the WECHU. The WECHU is here to help, and is offering families a variety of clinics, with some evening and Saturday appointments.

Families across Windsor and Essex County, can avoid their student being suspended from school, through these options:

• Contact the student’s health care provider to receive any missing vaccinations and/or obtain missing immunization documents (please share the notice received from the health unit with the health care provider). And report the updated immunization information to the WECHU. Health care providers are not required to do this.
• Submit updated immunization records to the WECHU using one of the following methods:

• Visit the WECHU’s online booking site or call the WECHU at 519-960-0231, ext. 1222 to book an immunization appointment with the WECHU.

For more information on school immunizations and the suspension process, visit the WECHU website.