Ottawa Urges Parents to Update Vaccinations Before School Year

As schools across Ottawa prepare to welcome students back to classrooms, public health officials are stressing the importance of ensuring children are up to date on their vaccinations. According to Ontario law, children attending primary and secondary schools in the province must be immunized against several diseases, including diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease, whooping cough, and chickenpox if they were born in 2010 or later, unless a valid medical or religious exemption is provided.

Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, the medical officer of health for the Eastern Ontario Health Unit, emphasized the need for parents to schedule checkups for their children with their primary care providers. Speaking on CTV Morning Live, he advised, “Always try to get a checkup before school starts.” He highlighted the importance of informing the school about any specific health needs. For example, if a child has a peanut allergy requiring an EpiPen, it is crucial for the school to be aware ahead of time.

Vaccination Requirements

There are three key sets of vaccinations that parents should prepare for. The first set, needed for children between four and six years of age, includes the tetanus, diphtheria, and polio shots, as well as the whooping cough vaccine. Dr. Roumeliotis noted the importance of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, stating, “That’s very important because that’s the booster we need as we’re seeing a lot of measles going around.” Additionally, the chickenpox vaccination is administered at this time, typically in combination with the other vaccines.

Ontario has reported over 2,000 confirmed cases of measles across 26 health units in the past year, with five cases confirmed in Ottawa as of mid-August. Most of these cases are linked to an outbreak that began in October 2022.

For children entering Grade 7, additional vaccinations are required, including the hepatitis B vaccine, the meningococcal vaccine, and the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine. Dr. Roumeliotis explained that “HPV is the one that causes cervical cancer,” emphasizing the importance of this vaccine.

A subsequent set of vaccinations is required for students aged 14 to 16 years, which includes a booster for whooping cough, tetanus, and diphtheria. After age 18, individuals should receive a booster for tetanus and diphtheria every ten years, along with a one-time booster for whooping cough.

Impact of Vaccination Status

Failure to maintain current immunization records may result in children being suspended from school. Dr. Roumeliotis expressed concern over this possibility, stating, “We don’t want to suspend kids. We want kids to be protected and go to school.” He noted that many children who appear to be out of compliance are often in good standing; they simply lack the necessary vaccination records.

During the last school year, approximately 3,000 students aged seven and 17 in Ottawa faced suspension due to outdated or incomplete vaccination documentation. Dr. Roumeliotis explained that this situation often arises from missing records rather than a lack of vaccinations.

Parents can verify their child’s vaccination status and obtain necessary immunizations by contacting their local public health unit or primary care provider. Information regarding childhood immunizations in Ottawa is available on the Ottawa Public Health website. Other health units, including the Eastern Ontario Health Unit, Renfrew County and District Health Unit, and various local health units in the South East Health Unit region, also provide details about routine vaccinations for schoolchildren on their respective websites.

Dr. Roumeliotis concluded by highlighting the broader community benefits of routine immunizations. “The more you can be up to date, the better it’s going to be,” he said, reinforcing the message that vaccinations are crucial for protecting not only individual children but also the health of the community as a whole.