www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, October 13, 2016 | 28 Health officials remain vigilant about immunization continued from p.1 to-date immunization records in order to attend school. Local health departments are responsible for confirming those student records to ensure youths have either the legally required immunizations or an exemption form on file. During discussions about the report on immunization enforcement at Halton Region's health and social services committee meeting on Oct. 4, Halton Region's Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Dr. Hamidah Meghani said the Health Department's efforts were effective in getting through to parents. Compliance of the targeted group of 17- and 18-year-old students born between 1998-99 increased a lot, she said. "So, those low rates that you're seeing in our report are primarily driven by the fact that parents are not reporting it to us," said Meghani, referring to the statistic 60.3 per cent of students (49,749 out of 82,555 students) in Halton, born between 1999 and 2009, were compliant with ISPA requirements as of August 2016. "It's not that we really think the immunization rates are that low, but it's a good portion of parents who are either unaware or just haven't gotten around to doing it yet," she continued. "Sometimes enforcement of ISPA through the threat of suspension is the key and we did notice that by doing that last year, we were able to increase our immunization rates for that particular cohort of students." The Health Department's efforts to enforce the rules included mailing out thousands of letters to parents requesting up-to-date immunization ahead of suspension while also offering immunization clinics, Meghani said in the report. She also highlighted the Region's efforts in making it easier for parents to submit immunization records with the release of a new online photo immunization reporting system that will allow parents to update their child's immunization records by taking an electronic photograph of the record and submitting the file online at halton.ca/immunize. In addition to the new online photo immunization reporting system, families can submit immunization records by completing an online form. Records can also be updated by dialling 311 or dropping off an up-to-date record at the Halton Regional Centre located at 1151 Bronte Rd., Oakville. Students are required to be vaccinated against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus poliomyelitis (DPTP), measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and meningococcal disease, in order to attend school. An exemption is allowed, if a student has medical reasons or provides an affidavit stating the student isn't immunized because of conscience or religious reasons. During discussion, Oakville Councillor Tom Adams asked whether the number of exemptions shown in the report (between two to 2.5 per cent) could potentially be higher given that some parents may not be reporting it until their child is faced with suspension. Meghani replied the numbers didn't increase dramatically when it enforced the ISPA requirements with Grades 11 and 12 students. "As a health unit, we're not experiencing the increase in amount of conscientious exemptions that perhaps some areas of Canada are experiencing," she further explained. "That's not to say we shouldn't be vigilant. We are continuing to monitor the situation. We are certainly speaking with parents who are hesitant around immunizations." She noted the public health nurses do a great job at dispelling immunization myths and reiterating why immunization remains one of the best ways to protect the community from the threat of vaccine preventable diseases. Looking ahead to this school year, the Health Department will continue to target high school students in Grades 11 and 12. It has met with both Halton school boards to determine an agreed suspension period for the 1999 to 2000 cohort in 2017. Students that fall within that age group with incomplete immunization records will face suspension from March 1 to April 4. Secondary school immunization clinics will be available prior to the suspension period. They begin this December and finish as early as February 2017. As of August 2016, 88.8 per cent of students born in 1999 and 57.8 per cent of students born in 2000 were compliant with all ISPA vaccines. For more information, visit halton.ca/ immunize. Leaky Basement? 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