Thunder Bay health unit stops elementary school-based immunization clinics

The Thunder Bay District Health Unit says, starting in September, it will no longer provide school-based immunization clinics for senior kindergarten to grade 6 students. Immunzation programs will still be offered at school for Grade 7-12. 

The health unit's manager of infectious disease programs said that less than 30 per cent of children in the elementary grades, who are due for a vaccine, were taking advantage of the school clinics.

At those younger ages children seem to be getting their immunization shots someplace other than school, said Diana Gowanlock.

"We could assume, anecdotally, that a lot of this is because parents want to be present for their child's immunization, because they are younger," she said. 

Gowanlock said instead of visiting the schools, the health unit plans to increase its communication with parents about the need for up-to-date vaccinations. 

"We don't anticipate it's going to be a huge change," she said.

"We are putting in extra clinic time and extra appointments for any parents who possibly don't have a health care provider that they could get their immunization through — or maybe we're closer than their health care provider, or easier to get to. We're still going to be available for those [people]."

In a news release, the health unit stated the childhood immunization schedule has become more complex — and additional vaccines were added to the Immunization of School Pupils Act, which the TBDHU is responsible for enforcing.

"These factors contributed to the reduction in the use of the school-based clinics and to the increased need for more direct communication with parents/guardians to review childhood immunizations, explain the schedule and the vaccines, and get informed consent to administer the vaccines," the release stated.