Toronto Students Face Suspension Over Missing Vaccination Records

Toronto Public Health (TPH) has issued a warning that thousands of students in the city could face suspension this fall if they do not meet vaccination requirements. As part of a renewed initiative ahead of the 2025–26 school year, TPH will enforce compliance with the Ontario Immunization of School Pupils Act. This mandate requires vaccinations against nine preventable diseases, including measles, mumps, rubella, and polio. Children born after 2010 must also be vaccinated against chicken pox.

Dr. Vinita Dubey, Toronto’s Associate Medical Officer of Health, revealed that approximately 140,000 students were not up to date on their measles vaccinations following a review conducted in June. “We sent out 140,000 letters in the summer. Many parents have those letters, and they should be acting on those as well,” she stated. The current focus is primarily on students in Grades 2 through 5, where TPH has identified low vaccination rates for measles.

Rising Measles Cases Prompt Urgency

As of August 19, Ontario reported a total of 2,363 measles cases linked to an ongoing outbreak that began in October 2024. This figure includes 2,051 confirmed cases and 312 probable cases. Fortunately, the weekly count of new cases has slowed significantly, with only one new case reported between August 12 and August 19. “While the downward trend in weekly case counts suggests that transmission is slowing, continued vigilance is needed,” according to Public Health Ontario.

The data indicates a concerning trend, with 73.1 percent of measles cases occurring among individuals aged 19 or younger. Furthermore, a staggering 96.4 percent of infant, child, and adolescent cases were found to be unimmunized. Without proof of vaccination, students may face a suspension of up to 20 days from school.

Ensuring Safety in Schools

Dr. Dubey emphasized the importance of vaccinations, stating, “These vaccines have good track records. They’re well used and well studied. They have proven to be very safe. They also work very well.” Exemptions for vaccinations are permitted for medical or religious reasons; however, TPH noted that a significant majority of students must be immunized to ensure safety throughout the school year.

“If there is an exposure at a school, say someone at a school comes down with measles, the whole school would then be considered exposed or at risk,” Dr. Dubey explained. “Anyone who is not up to date with their vaccinations or not immune will be excluded right away from the school setting.”

This initiative by TPH seeks to protect the health of Toronto’s students and prevent further outbreaks of preventable diseases, ensuring a safer environment for all. As the school year approaches, parents are urged to verify their children’s vaccination status and take the necessary actions to comply with public health requirements.