Suspension
Important Note If you received a letter about your child's immunizations, have contacted the Health Unit, and are waiting for a call back please be aware that we are currently receiving a high volume of calls. To serve you better please leave one message with the following information: - Child's name (with spelling)
- Child's date of birth
- Your daytime phone number
- Detailed question
We will return your call as soon as possible, but please be advised that this may take several days. You have until April 3 at 3 p.m. to report your child's missing immunization information outlined in the letter. In the meantime, your child is able to attend school. If the missing information is not provided, student suspension will begin on April 4, 2019. Thank you for your patience and understanding. |
Suspension Letters
On February 4, 2019 suspension letters were mailed to the homes of students born in 2002, and 2011 who, according to Health Unit records, need immunization against one or more of the diseases listed below:
Students who do not comply with the suspension order will be suspended beginning April 4, 2019.
Reporting Vaccinations
Students who received a suspension letter and need to update their records can report their vaccinations by:
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Online
- Phone: 519-753-4937 ext. 451
- Fax: 519-753-2140
- Mail/In person: 194 Terrace Hill St., Brantford, ON N3R 1G7
- Drop box: Located outside east entrance door (Terrace Hill St. and McMurray St.) (drop off copy of yellow card/immunization record or printout of immunization record)
When reporting immunizations to the Brant County Health Unit, please include:
- Correct spelling of child’s name
- Date of birth
- Daytime phone number
- Date and name of vaccine given
- Name and phone number of family doctor (if applicable)
Get Vaccinated
Students who received a suspension order and need immunization but are unable to visit their doctor can book an appointment at the Brant County Health Unit. High school students are encouraged to receive their missing vaccines at a clinic at their school. No appointment is required.
The Brant County Health Unit will be offering a clinic at each high school for students born in 2002 who received a suspension order. Students do not need to book an appointment. As per the Health Care Consent Act, informed consent will be obtained from the student.
All clinics will take place in the morning, during school hours. Students are encouraged to listen carefully to the school announcements on the day of their school clinic to determine when and where to go for their immunizations. Students should eat breakfast, wear a short sleeve shirt, and read the related vaccine fact sheet(s) prior to getting their immunizations(s). Please call 519-753-4937 ext. 451 should you have any questions or speak to the nurse on clinic day.
To book an appointment call 519-753-4937 ext. 451. Please include these details in your message:
- Student’s first and last name
- Date of birth
- Daytime telephone number where you can be reached
- Preferred clinic date and time
BCHU Clinic Dates
- March 19 from 9 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
- March 28 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Suspension FAQs
Ontario's
Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires all students 4 to 17 years old to provide proof of immunization to their local health unit. Health units use this information to prevent the spread of many serious diseases. Students who fail to provide proof of immunization, or a valid exemption, may be suspended from school for up to 20 school days.
The Health Unit requires proof of immunization against the diseases listed below. To meet these requirements vaccines must be given according to
Ontario’s Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule. As your child gets older, new immunizations are required. For example, students require a tetanus booster (TdaP-IPV) between 4-6 years of age and another one 10 years later (Tdap).
According to Ontario's Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), students must be fully immunized against the following diseases:
This means that according to Health Unit records, your child is missing a required vaccine that is part of
Ontario’s Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule. The reason you are receiving this letter is likely for one of four reasons:
- Your child received this vaccine, but the Health Unit has not been given a record of it.
- Your child has not received the required vaccine.
- Your child has not received the vaccine at the right time. To get the best protection possible, the age that a vaccine is given is important as is the timing between vaccines. For example, all children must have two doses of the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine given on or after their first birthday and with the two doses at least four weeks apart.
- A valid exemption has not been submitted to the Health Unit.
It is a parent’s responsibility to provide the Health Unit with their child’s immunization information. Doctors are not required to do this for you. Every time your child receives an immunization, make sure to let the Health Unit know (see
Vaccine Reporting tab).
If your child has received the required vaccine and it was given at the right time, report this information to the Health Unit. If you don’t know when the vaccine was given, check your child’s immunization record (yellow card) or call your family doctor (see
Vaccine Reporting tab).
All required immunizations are free. You can receive missing vaccines from:
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Your Doctor: Once the vaccination is received, be sure to report it to the Health Unit (see
Vaccine Reporting tab). Note: Students 12 years and older who require immunization against Meningococcal disease (Menactra®) must receive their vaccine at a Health Unit clinic or their high school clinic.
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The Health Unit: The Health Unit is holding extra clinics for those who received a suspension order and are not able to see their family doctor to get missing vaccines. To book an appointment call 519-753-4937 ext. 451.
If your child cannot receive the required vaccine because of a health condition or serious allergy, you must have your doctor complete a Medical Exemption Form and bring it to the Health Unit (see the
Immunization Exemptions tab).
If you choose not to have your child immunized because of a philosophical or religious belief, you must complete a
Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief Affidavit. This form must be signed by a Commissioner of Oaths and original returned to the Health Unit. In addition, you are required to book an appointment and attend an education session at the Health Unit in order to receive a Vaccine Education Certificate. Please be advised, no appointments will be available the week prior to suspension.
Unimmunized students are at increased risk of getting sick with and spreading vaccine preventable diseases. In the event of a disease outbreak, unprotected students will be excluded from school for the duration of the outbreak to help protect unimmunized children from getting or spreading the disease (see the
Immunization Exemptions tab).
If you have any more questions about immunization requirements and school suspension, please call 519-753-4937 ext. 451 and we will return your call as soon as possible.
