Four clinics are being offered in the coming months for area students to get up-to-date with their regular school aged vaccines.
They include measles, mumps and meningitis.
The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit says many students are behind on their routine vaccinations required for school because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, students aged four to 17 must be vaccinated to attend school in Ontario, or risk suspension.
The Health Unit says due to the pandemic, students will not be suspended this year, but are still required to be caught up on vaccinations.
“The last two years have been very stressful and we don’t want to add to that stress. That’s why we are giving students time this year to get their vaccines without the risk of suspension,” says Marlene Campsall, Manager of the Health Unit’s Vaccine Preventable Disease program.
Campsall says they expect to return to the regular vaccine requirements next school year.
Letters have been mailed to parents of students who are behind on their vaccines.
School-aged vaccine clinics are being held in North Bay, Mattawa, Sundridge and West Nipissing.
In-school clinics will be held in Parry Sound.
The Health Unit says appointments are preferred for the clinics, but walk-ins will be accepted.
Upcoming clinics include:
Mattawa:
- Saturday, April 30 at the Mattawa Golden Age Club (476 Poplar St., Mattawa), from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
West Nipissing:
- Saturday, May 7 at the Marcel Noël Hall (219 O’Hara St., Sturgeon Falls), from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sundridge:
- Saturday, May 14 at SSJ Arena (14 Albert St. N., Sundridge), from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
North Bay:
- Saturday, June 4 at the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit (345 Oak St. W., North Bay), from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
To book an appointment call 1-800-563-2808 Option 7.
For further information on the program, visit www.myhealthunit.ca.
