Students in Elementary School to be Suspended if Immunization Information Not Updated with the WECHU

Parents and guardians of JK to Grade 8 students attending school in Windsor and Essex County are reminded to check their child’s immunization record (the yellow card they received when they got their first vaccine) to make sure they’re up-to-date on their vaccines based on Ontario’s publicly funded immunization schedule. If your child has received any COVID-19 immunizations, these do NOT need to be reported to the health unit, as they are not a part of the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA).

As per the ISPA “all students in Ontario are to be up-to-date on immunizations. Public health units are to maintain and review vaccine records for every student attending school in their region and those not up-to-date can be suspended from school for up to 20 days”.

Immunization Clinics

Families should book immunization appointments with their health care provider. Parents and guardians can report any vaccines their child receives from a health care provider online at immune.wechu.org.

Catch-up immunization clinics are also being offered at the WECHU Windsor and Leamington offices and will continue until the end of March. Families can book an appointment at a WECHU clinic by visiting wechu.org/getimmunized or by calling the WECHU at 519-960-0231.

What can parents do if their child receives vaccines from their Health Care Provider?

Vaccines given by health care providers aren’t always reported to the health unit. Health care providers aren’t required to share this information with the local health unit. It’s important that parents/guardians report their child’s vaccinations to the health unit. Reporting immunization records is quick and easy and can be done in any of the following ways:

• Online at immune.wechu.org
• Call: 519-960-0231 or 1-800-265-5822 ext. 1222 (toll-free)
• Fax: 519-258-7288

If your child has an immunization record in a language other than English or French, please have the record translated and bring the translated record to the health unit.

The VON Immigrant Health Clinic provides free translation of immunization records. For more information on which languages they support or for the clinic location, call 519-916-4370.

Having Updated Immunization Records Protects our Community

Ensuring that the WECHU has updated immunization records for all students in Windsor and Essex County is important to help prevent the spread of vaccine preventable diseases. Ontario Health units are required to maintain and review immunization records for every student attending school in their region. Students who are either overdue for one or more vaccines or who have not reported their immunization records to the Health Unit by 6 pm on Thursday March 16, 2023 can be suspended from school for up to 20 days.

For more information on vaccines and school vaccine requirements, visit wechu.org/your-health/immunization/school-immunization-clinics.