Close X
Thursday, November 14, 2024
ADVT 
National

Ontario Proposes Tougher Rules For Exempting School Kids From Vaccinations

The Canadian Press, 11 Dec, 2015 11:19 AM
  • Ontario Proposes Tougher Rules For Exempting School Kids From Vaccinations
TORONTO — Ontario is looking to strengthen the requirements for parents who want to exempt school children from vaccines for non-medical reasons.
 
Health Minister Eric Hoskins says 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.
 
Parents would have to take a course at their local public health unit on the benefits of vaccines and the "very real risks" their children face if they are not immunized before they can get an exemption.
 
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.
 
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.
 
Hoskins says the new plan "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 follows recommendations of the auditor general.
 
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.

MORE National ARTICLES

Feds Reject Air Canada's Request To See Security Threat Assessments

The air carrier has expressed concern to the federal government about accommodating sky marshals on its flights, often at significant cost.

Feds Reject Air Canada's Request To See Security Threat Assessments

Remote B.C. Community Frets Over Cut Lifeline As Plug Pulled On Internet

Remote B.C. Community Frets Over Cut Lifeline As Plug Pulled On Internet
District of Stewart, the non-profit provider pulled the plug on the Internet on Monday, and it could be weeks before the community gets back online

Remote B.C. Community Frets Over Cut Lifeline As Plug Pulled On Internet

Richmond Predator Martin Tremblay Declared Dangerous Offender, Given Indeterminate Prison Sentence

Richmond Predator Martin Tremblay Declared Dangerous Offender, Given Indeterminate Prison Sentence
Friends and family of 17-year-old Martha Jackson and 16-year-old Kayla Lalonde cried and cheered as a B.C. Supreme Court judge handed down his decision

Richmond Predator Martin Tremblay Declared Dangerous Offender, Given Indeterminate Prison Sentence

Ontario University Hockey Team Changes It's Offensive Name, Destroys Jerseys After Complaint

Ontario University Hockey Team Changes It's Offensive Name, Destroys Jerseys After Complaint
The co-ed team of law students at Western University was called Dixon Cider — a name that the dean of the university's faculty of law says isn't immediately clear that it's offensive until it is spoken aloud

Ontario University Hockey Team Changes It's Offensive Name, Destroys Jerseys After Complaint

Suspect In Alberta Triple Homicide Shot By RCMP, No One Else Hurt

Suspect In Alberta Triple Homicide Shot By RCMP, No One Else Hurt
RCMP say that earlier today they went with a warrant to arrest Mickell Bailey in the deaths of Roxanne Berube, another female and Daniel Miller.

Suspect In Alberta Triple Homicide Shot By RCMP, No One Else Hurt

Rape Group Won't Be Heard At Ivan Henry's Compensation Hearing

A British Columbia Supreme Court judge has rejected an attempt by Vancouver Rape Relief to argue that a man acquitted of sexual assault after nearly three decades behind bars is actually guilty.

Rape Group Won't Be Heard At Ivan Henry's Compensation Hearing