Ottawa Public Health vows to eliminate immunization record backlog

Ottawa Public Health says that with or without funding assistance, it will eliminate its backlog of student immunization records so parents can be notified of infractions and the need for any suspensions in the 2015-16 academic year.

The public health agency notified the Ministry of Health of its intentions in a compliance report sent to the ministry last week.

Earlier this year, OPH said it had not been monitoring the immunization records it collected from schools for the past two years, despite being legally obligated to do so. The agency cited the cost and time involved in implementing a new web-based program called Panorama, which tracks immunizations.

In the compliance report, OPH said it had "taken stock" of budgetary needs to "successfully and consistently" fulfill its immunization tracking obligations. 

The agency has also submitted a "one-time funding request" to catch up on the data entry backlog, but has begun planning to reallocate resources and create a response team to deal with the backlog by the end of September 2015 if the funding isn't approved.

OPH is also planning on creating a compliance monitor position to keep track of the agency's compliance with all standards and protocols, it said in the report.