Two students remain suspended more than a month after immunization deadline
The number of students suspended has dropped from 66 in October
Two Windsor-Essex students remain suspended more than a month after the health unit's immunization deadline because their records are still not up to date.
That's a significant drop from the 659 elementary school students who were suspended in the Windsor area in September.
"The Health Unit and school boards continue to work closely with the affected families to assist the students to return to school," stated the Health Unit in an email to CBC News.
The health unit sent out 2,317 suspension notifications on Sept. 1, but there were still 1,100 students with incomplete or not updated records the day before suspensions were set to begin.
By mid-October that number had been cut down to 66 students.
Health units require updated records
The notices sent to families indicated which vaccines were missing from the students' records, how to get in touch with the unit to provide updated information, and how to book an appointment for immunization.
Parents who don't want to vaccinate their children must apply for an exemption.
Health units across Ontario are required to maintain immunization records for students and can ask boards to issue suspensions to parents in order to ensure parents keep their vaccinations up to date.
In order to attend school, students have to show proof of immunization against meningococcal disease, whooping cough, chickenpox, tetanus, diphtheria, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps and rubella.