The True Post (Web News)Public health records from Ottawa schools reveal that more than half of the students assessed this year do not have up-to-date vaccination records, highlighting what experts describe as an outdated and inefficient system hindering efforts to improve immunization rates.
According to Ottawa Public Health, as of October 12, records for about 16,000 students from grades 2 to 12 were incomplete or outdated — representing over 66% of students in those age groups.
In Ontario, parents are responsible for submitting their children’s vaccination records to local public health units. Each year, authorities audit selected age groups and send notices to families who have not updated records or applied for exemptions.
Health experts warn that the large number of these notices shows how ineffective the current manual system has become. Many parents must locate old paper “yellow cards” or obtain printed records from doctors’ offices, making it difficult for health agencies to maintain accurate data.
The issue emerges as Canada’s overall vaccination rates decline, while misinformation continues to spread online. Experts now fear Canada may lose its measles-free status, with more than 5,000 infections reported over the past year. If the Pan American Health Organization revokes this status, Canada will need to prove vaccination coverage of at least 95% and demonstrate strong disease monitoring systems to regain it.
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Kieran Moore, recently acknowledged that fragmented vaccine data across different systems remains the biggest challenge. The Ministry of Health has announced work on a digital tool to give citizens access to their vaccination and health records, though no completion date has been set.
Ottawa-based physician Dr. Kumanan Wilson, who has advocated for a national vaccine registry for two decades, said that while the problem is old, a new threat has emerged — the resurgence of preventable diseases.
