Public health data from Ottawa and Toronto schools reveal that over half of students in this year’s cohorts lack current immunization records, highlighting an outdated system hindering efforts to increase vaccination rates. Toronto Public Health dispatched 60,000 letters to students in Grades 2 to 5 who hadn’t provided records, as mandated by the Immunization of School Pupils Act. Despite this, approximately 54% of students, totaling 50,000, remained non-compliant and face potential suspension if records are not updated soon.
In parallel, Ottawa’s public health unit reported that as of October 12, around 16,000 students in Grades 2 and 12 had outdated immunization records, representing more than 66% of children in these age brackets. In Ontario, parents are responsible for submitting immunization records to public health units, with reminders sent to non-compliant households annually.
Toronto Public Health noted that in certain grades, as few as 25% of students possess current vaccination records, predominantly affecting elementary school students. Experts emphasize that the high number of students receiving notices highlights the cumbersome process, often involving tracking down physical records from doctors’ offices, leading to incomplete data for public health officials.
This issue arises at a critical juncture for Canada, as vaccination rates decline amid online misinformation, jeopardizing the country’s measles-free status due to a prolonged outbreak infecting over 5,000 individuals in the past year. Health officials advocate for a centralized provincial or national registry for vaccination records, a longstanding request echoed by Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s chief medical officer.
Dr. Milena Forte, a family physician and parent in Toronto, shared her experience navigating the flawed vaccine reporting system, emphasizing the unnecessary duplication of tasks and resources. Instances of students facing suspension due to incomplete vaccination records have been reported, with Hamilton’s public health unit sending thousands of letters to parents and eventually suspending a significant number of students in recent years.
Calls for a streamlined vaccine registry persist, with the resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases like measles underscoring the urgency for improved vaccination data management. The current fragmented system poses challenges for both health providers and families alike, highlighting the need for a more efficient and unified approach to vaccination record keeping.
