Kingston-area health officials suspended 150 elementary school children after their parents failed to produce current immunization records.

Last week's 21-day suspensions mark the first time the health unit has exercised its power to remove children from school. The suspensions come amid concerns over falling immunization rates.
 

'In the old days, we had whooping cough wards and polio wards. We're not seeing them now because children are being vaccinated and we'd like to keep it that way.'-Dr. Michael Hefferon, Kingston pediatrician

Officials with the Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox and Addington public health unit say students will be readmitted to class when their parents provide up-to-date records or show that their child has an appointment to be vaccinated.

Kingston public health nurse Angela Shepherd said the action is not punitive but aimed at keeping schools disease free.

"The ministry (of health) is pushing us to get higher coverage rates. So, this year we decided we better do the suspensions," said Shepherd.

Kingston pediatrician Dr. Michael Hefferon says the health unit's actions make sense.

"In the old days, we had whooping cough wards and polio wards. We're not seeing them now because children are being vaccinated and we'd like to keep it that way," said Hefferon.

In Ottawa, Paula Arnold, manager of infectious disease, says suspensions will begin January.

At the Leeds, Grenville, Lanark District Health Unit in Brockville, spokesperson Jane Futcher says officials there also are concerned that once dormant diseases are beginning to resurface.

"We were seeing outbreaks of pertussis (whooping cough) all over the country, actually. And it was because immunity was waning from the immunization," said Futcher.

"Those kids got their last pertussis (vaccination) between (ages) four and six. So if you get pertussis when you're say 12 or 13 or 14, you may not have a horrible case because you may have some immunity left."

But those who have not been immunized, including babies too young for those inoculations, could become very ill, she said.

Students across Ontario must be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella and pertussis, according to the provincial ministry of health, unless parents can give a valid written reason for exemption citing medical, religious or ethical concerns.

The majority of elementary and high school students in Ontario have been immunized, starting as early as six months of age.