School Suspensions Coming Up for Students Without Up-to-Date Vaccine Records

Thunder Bay District Health Unit (TBDHU) has started the annual process of enforcing the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) to ensure students are protected against vaccine preventable diseases. Students who do not meet the ISPA requirements could face a 20-day school suspension. All mailed notices will be sent well before deadlines to give families ample time to update student vaccine records and avoid suspension.

TBDHU will continue to review student vaccine records and notify parents or guardians if their student is missing vaccines or vaccine information. Vaccination clinics will be available to help students get up-to-date on required immunizations. 

For the 2024/25 school year, enforcement of the ISPA in schools across the District of Thunder Bay will be staggered as described below.

 

Grade 9 to 12 - High Schools in Thunder Bay: 

  • First notices will be mailed by January 31, 2025 to the parents or guardians of students with incomplete vaccine records.
  • High schools include École Secondaire Catholique de la Verendrye, Hammarskjold, Westgate, St. Ignatius, St. Patrick, Superior CVI, and Thunder Bay Christian.

Senior Kindergarten (SK) to Grade 8 – Elementary schools in Thunder Bay and Surrounding Communities: 

  • First notices will be mailed by February 14, 2025 to the parents or guardians of elementary and senior elementary school students with incomplete vaccine records.

SK to Grade 12 – Schools in the areas of Nipigon/Red Rock/Dorion, Terrace Bay/Schreiber, Marathon, Manitouwadge, and Greenstone: 

  • First notices will be sent to parents or guardians in the spring. More information will be provided closer to that time.  

 

All mailed communications will include important dates and steps to avoid suspension from school. Notices are being sent early to give families enough time to update student vaccine records and avoid suspension. Notices will not be sent to parents or guardians of students with up-to-date vaccine records. 

“Our immunization team is committed to the health and wellness of all students and is available to support families to meet the requirements of ISPA,” says Laura Dennis, Vaccine Program Manager. “Families who face barriers to ISPA compliance are encouraged to contact TBDHU at 807-625-5908 or their nearest branch office.”

TBDHU encourages parents or guardians to submit vaccine records when their student receives a vaccine from a community health care provider to ensure it is added to the student’s provincial vaccine record. Unless submitted by a parent or guardian, TBDHU only has records of the vaccines it has administered. Not all health care providers routinely report vaccines to TBDHU. Parents or guardians of children aged 18 and under have several options to submit vaccine information, which can be found at TBDHU.com/vaxreport.   

TBDHU will continue to work with schools and communicate with parents and guardians throughout the ISPA process, including sharing the dates of upcoming vaccine clinics. Information about the Immunization of School Pupils Act can be found through TBDHU’s website, TBDHU.com/schoolvax.

-30-

Parent and Guardian inquiries for immunization:
807-625-5908

District branch office contact information: www.tbdhu.com/contact 

Media inquiries: 
TBDHU Media Line 807-625-7994 or news@tbdhu.com

News Type
News Releases
Health Topics
Immunizations
Schools & Daycares