CK Public Health has issued 1,734 first-notice letters to parents and guardians of students whose immunization records are listed as incomplete under Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act.
Under the act, students attending school in Ontario must be vaccinated against, or have a valid exemption for, diseases including tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease and varicella. Public health officials note that immunization records are not automatically shared with local health units by health-care providers, meaning some families may receive a notice even if their child is fully vaccinated.
“Approximately a quarter of the first notices were mailed to families with children starting kindergarten,” said Dr. Shanker Nesathurai, medical officer of health for CK Public Health. “The beginning of school comes with a lot for parents to remember. As part of getting ready, we want to remind parents to forward their child’s immunization information to CK Public Health before the start of school.”
Parents or guardians who receive a first notice are being urged to review their child’s immunization record and arrange any missing vaccinations through their health-care provider, or by contacting the CK Public Health school health team to ask about clinic options. Updated immunization information can be submitted online at www.ckpublichealth.com/child-immunizations, by mail or in person at CK Public Health, 435 Grand Ave. East, second floor, Chatham, or by phone at 519-352-7270, extension 2457.
CK Public Health said the first-notice letter is the initial step in the enforcement process under the Immunization of School Pupils Act. If immunization records remain incomplete, suspension orders are expected to be issued during the first week of February. Students who do not meet immunization requirements by March 10, 2026, will be suspended from school.
Public health officials say their goal is to keep students in the classroom and they are prepared to work with families to ensure vaccinations are up to date and properly reported. More information is available at www.ckpublichealth.com/child-immunizations.
