Close X
Sunday, November 24, 2024
ADVT 
Health

Ontario Proposes Tougher Rules For Exempting School Kids From Vaccinations

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 12 Dec, 2015 02:35 PM
    TORONTO — Ontario parents who don't want to have their children vaccinated will have to be educated themselves about the risks their kids will face before they can go to school.
     
    Health Minister Eric Hoskins announced steps Friday to deal with so-called anti-vaxxers, parents who don't want to have their kids immunized because of the now debunked fear that vaccines cause autism or mercury poisoning or auto-immune disorders.
     
    The proposed new strategy, called Immunization 2020, will strengthen the publicly funded immunization program by requiring parents who want a non-medical exemption for their kids to attend an education session, said Hoskins.
     
    "The changes we're proposing, if passed, would require parents who choose not to vaccinate their children for non-medical reasons to attend an education session delivered by their local public health unit, prior to signing the exemption form," he said.
     
    "And parents or guardians would have to acknowledge that they received this education about the very real risks their children face if they chose that decision."
     
    Hoskins says it's time to update Ontario's 1982 law — the first of its kind in Canada — that required children be vaccinated against certain diseases in order to be able to attend school, unless they had a valid exemption.
     
    "These changes not only protect these children, they protect all children, including those who cannot protect themselves," said Hoskins.
     
    There will also be public education campaigns on immunization and an online tool to help remind parents of their children's vaccination schedules, based on birthdays.
     
    "Immunization 2020 is a call for action and participation for health-care workers, public health specialists and all Ontarians involved with the province's immunization system, and all Ontarians involved in the immunization system," said Hoskins. The new strategy also addresses the recommendations in the 2014 auditor general's report, he added.
     
     
    "There will be expanded public reporting of coverage rates so everyone in Ontario knows where their community stands on immunization," said Hoskins.
     
    The auditor concluded last December that the Ministry of Health has no way of tracking the percentage of Ontarians immunized for certain diseases, or whether its immunization program is cost-effective.
     
    A report this year from the C.D. Howe Institute and another from an independent panel of medical experts both criticized the lack of data on Ontario's immunization programs.
     
    Ontario will also increase the scope of practice for pharmacists so they can administer certain travel vaccines, and will also help educate young people about the value of immunization programs so they don't become anti-vaxxers, said Hoskins.
     
    "(We'll be) working with the education sector to provide an immunization teaching module that public health units could provide to schools," he said. "We're in effect helping students make informed choices about immunization before they become adults, and parents." 
     
    Parents opposed to vaccines came under fire following a major outbreak of measles in the United States, and a smaller one in Canada, after both countries had earlier officially declared they had eradicated the highly-contagious disease.
     
    Hoskins declared Ontario "measles free" last February after there had been fewer than 20 cases in the province.

    MORE Health ARTICLES

    Ex-Decades-long Prisoner Romeo Philion Dies After Lengthy Illness

    Ex-Decades-long Prisoner Romeo Philion Dies After Lengthy Illness
    The Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted, who fought to have Phillion exonerated, said he died Monday, a day after his admission to hospital.

    Ex-Decades-long Prisoner Romeo Philion Dies After Lengthy Illness

    Most Women Unaware Of Alcohol's Role In Breast Cancer

    Most women are unaware that drinking alcohol or being obese could increase their risk of developing breast cancer, shows a Britain-based survey.

    Most Women Unaware Of Alcohol's Role In Breast Cancer

    Sex Three-four Times A Week Can Clear Kidney Stones: Study

    Sex Three-four Times A Week Can Clear Kidney Stones: Study
    Suffering from kidney stones? Well, stop gulping down beer after beer or other drinks to pass it out and prepare yourself for better action between the sheets tonight.

    Sex Three-four Times A Week Can Clear Kidney Stones: Study

    Diabetic? Daily Glass Of Red Wine Can Improve Heart Health

    Diabetic? Daily Glass Of Red Wine Can Improve Heart Health
    A glass of red wine every night may help people with Type-2 diabetes manage their cholesterol and cardiac health, suggests new research.

    Diabetic? Daily Glass Of Red Wine Can Improve Heart Health

    Don't Give Flu Shot A Miss This Season Based On Last Year's Failure, Doctors Say

    Don't Give Flu Shot A Miss This Season Based On Last Year's Failure, Doctors Say
    It's that time of year again, time for Canadians to think about getting that jab in the arm to protect themselves against the dreaded winter scourge — the flu.

    Don't Give Flu Shot A Miss This Season Based On Last Year's Failure, Doctors Say

    Few Pregnancy Deaths But Maternal Health Challenges Remain: Report

    The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics is releasing a report on Tuesday at its triennial congress saying "more work needs to be done."

    Few Pregnancy Deaths But Maternal Health Challenges Remain: Report