MEMO: Anticipate Calls from Parents Wanting Vaccines or Records for Their Child  

TO:  Health Care Professionals in the Niagara Region

FROM: Vaccine Preventable Disease program, Niagara Region Public Health & Emergency Services

REFERENCE: Anticipate Calls from Parents Wanting Vaccines or Records for Their Child

DATE:  Nov. 11, 2019

Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) Record Review

• Our immunization record review now captures children starting at 6 years to 17 years old
• We are in the process of sending approximately 8,000 immunization notices to families

Implications for Your Practice

• Your practice plays a key role in reducing student suspension by providing parents with vaccination records and getting children caught up on overdue vaccine doses
• As your office will likely get calls, please ensure your office has enough vaccine to accommodate this potential demand. ISPA requires up-to-date immunization for:
  • 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
• We also strongly recommend the annual flu vaccine for all children and the Hepatitis B and HPV for Grade 7 students

Exemptions

• Most students aged 7-17 are immunized (over 95%) with 3.5% having a philosophical (non-medical) exemption on file
• If the vaccine is deemed to be unsafe or unnecessary for the client because of:
  • Clinical diagnosis of prior disease
  • Contraindication to health (e.g., allergy to a component of the vaccine)
  • Laboratory confirmation of immunity or prior disease
    • then a Statement of Medical Exemption form must be completed by the physician and returned to Public Health
• A parent/legal guardian wanting a philosophical exemption needs to complete a Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief Affidavit and a Vaccine Education Certificate at Public Health

For More Information

• For more information on ISPA, contact the Vaccine Preventable Disease Program at 1-888-505-6074 or 905-688-8248 ext. 7396 or visit niagararegion.ca/vaccines
• To order more vaccine, visit niagararegion.ca/health/professionals for the General Vaccine Order Form and the School Program Vaccine Order Form