A shot in the arm is required for students' regular vaccines

An undated file image of a person getting vaccinated. (CDC/Pexels)

Health unit to begin secondary school-based catch-up clinics for routine immunizations.

To help students catch up on the routine and required immunizations that were missed during the pandemic, the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU) is partnering with local school boards to offer school-based immunization clinics at Simcoe Muskoka secondary schools during February and March.

In early January, the health unit mailed letters home to the families of students whose immunization records are incomplete to notify them of what information is missing.

If a student has already received their routine immunizations through their health care provider or a health unit clinic, parents are advised to update their child’s immunization record online.

During school-based catch-up clinics, health unit nurses will offer:

Required vaccines:

• Tdap booster for 14-to-16-year-olds, Men-C-ACYW (meningitis – offered in Grade 7, and/or measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) if missed
• Second dose varicella (chicken pox vaccine) if missed (not mandatory)
• Hepatitis B and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines that are offered in Grade 7 if missed.

The health unit will not be offering COVID-19 and influenza vaccines at these clinics.

It suggests getting immunized according to the publicly funded immunization schedule for Ontario. Having up-to-date immunizations helps to ensure that youth have the best protection against certaivaccine-preventablele diseases and helps to reduce the risk of outbreaks in schools.

Parents and caregivers are reminded that vaccination against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella and meningococcal disease are required immunizations under the Immunization of School Pupils Act. At the same time, hepatitis B and HPV vaccines are strongly recommended.

Routine and mandatory vaccines given to students and the diseases they prevent, can be accessed online. You can also speak with a public health professional by calling Health Connection at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520 Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.