Algoma Public Health's urging parents to protect school communities from preventable diseases - warning thousands of students could be suspended otherwise.
Emphasizing "high levels of vaccination contribute to herd immunity which keeps dangerous diseases away from our children", the local health unit's sending out about 6000 letters to parents and guardians in Algoma whose child does not have up-to-date immunization records - either because they haven't received an update or because they're overdue for one or more vaccine - warning Ontario law requires youth under age 18 to have received certain vaccines or have a valid exemption on file or be suspended up to 20 days, which could continue to happen if the information's not received.
Suspensions are set to start in April and May if records aren't up to date with all mandatory vaccines included or a valid exemption on file.