Suspension notices are in the mail.
Lambton Public Health is mailing out about 3,000 first notices to elementary and high school students whose immunization records are not up to date.
"For elementary that would be approximately 2,000 letters and for high school 1,000 letters," said Lambton Medical Officer of Health Dr. Karalyn Dueck.
She said there are nine designated vaccine preventable diseases for which records are required, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, mumps, rubella, measles, meningitis, pertussis (whooping cough) and varicella (chickenpox).
"Requiring proof of immunization for designated vaccine preventable diseases, according to the Immunization of School Pupils Act, protects children's health and reduces the risk of outbreaks in schools," said Dr. Dueck.
The letters are a first notice, and suspension orders will be sent early next month to those who still haven't updated their records.
If records are not up to date by March 3, Dr. Dueck said kids will be suspended from school as of March 4.
"There were 546 total suspensions in the 2023-2024 school year," she said. "Last year there were approximately 6,000 first notices sent for the 2023-2024 school year, and so we are pleased to see those numbers close to that in 2020 which was 2,602 letters that were sent."
Records or proof of exemption can be updated through Lambton Public Health's website, by calling the health unit at 226-254-8222, or in person at the Exmouth Street site.