With the school year underway, the Grey Bruce Health Unit is reporting excellent immunization rates.
Jody Kroeplin is a Public Health Nurse on the Vaccine Preventable Diseases Team.
She says according to stats from the 2008/2009 school year, 95 per cent of students in Grey Bruce have all their mandatory shots.
By law, elementary and secondary students must be immunized for measles, mumps, rubella, tetanus, diphtheria, and polio.
Kroeplin says the remaining five per cent of Grey Bruce students have exemption letters for either medical or religious reasons.
Kroeplin adds many students are also getting the recommended shots, for things like Hepatitis B and HPV.
The Grey Bruce Health Unit maintains immunization records for nearly 26-thousand students.
Kroeplin says the Health Unit works closely with the schools every year to make sure those records are up to date.
Starting in the winter months, every single record is reviewed to look for any deficiencies.
Parents are then notified if their child needs to be immunized and Kroeplin says as a last resort, that child can be suspended until they receive the shot.
Kroeplin reminds parents it is very important to notify the Health Unit of any shots received at the family doctor’s office, to make sure it’s on record.
When it comes to the seasonal flu shot, Kroeplin says the first clinic is scheduled for October 15th at the Health Unit.
She also recognizes parents have many questions about any vaccine for the H1N1 virus, but says production is still in the testing stages and further news will be made available once it progresses.
Kroeplin says no matter what, the seasonal flu shot is still recommended because influenza and H1N1 are different strains requiring different vaccines.
If you have any questions about your child’s immunization record, call the Health Unit at 519-376-9420.