MEMO: Impending School Suspensions & Implications for Your Practice, Jan. 21, 2019
TO: Health care professionals in the Niagara region
FROM: Vaccine Preventable Disease Program (VPD program)
REFERENCE: Impending School Suspensions & Implications for Your Practice
DATE: Jan. 21,
2019
Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) Suspensions
- This month, Public Health is mailing approximately 5,000 suspension orders to students in Niagara elementary and secondary schools
- The suspension orders inform students that they will be suspended on March 19, 2019 unless records of up-to-date
immunization or a valid exemption is provided
Implications for Your Practice
- The suspension notices may prompt an increased number of calls to your office requesting an immunization appointment or to discuss immunization needs
- Please ensure your office has enough vaccine to accommodate this potential demand
- ISPA requires up-to-date immunization for all students for the following
- Tetanus
- Diphtheria
- Pertussis
- Measles
- Mumps
- Rubella
- Polio
- Meningococcal
- Varicella (for birth year 2010 and later)
- The teenage tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis booster is due 10 years after the school entry booster
- A Statement of Medical Exemption form must be completed by the physician and returned to Public Health if the vaccine is deemed to be unsafe or unnecessary for the client because of
- Laboratory confirmation of immunity or prior disease
- Clinical diagnosis of prior disease
- Contraindication to health (e.g. allergy to a component of the vaccine)
- Other reasons not to vaccinate (e.g. philosophical objection) require
a Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief Affidavit, which must be completed by the parent/legal guardian
Once the suspension takes effect on March 19, your office will need to provide the client with written documentation to submit to Public Health.
For More Information
For more information on the school suspension process, contact the VPD program at 1-888-505-6074 or 905-688-8248 ext. 7396
To order vaccine see: General Vaccine Order Form and the School Program Vaccine Order Form