Parents in Ontario who'd like to have their children exempt from vaccinations may have to take a class that goes over the facts about immunizations.
Ontario Health Minister Eric Hoskins that would force parents seeking an exception from immunization for non-medical purposes to attend an "education session" delivered by their local public health unit.
The class would be required for parents who wish to forgo vaccinations for their children based on religious or moral objections.
"Choosing to vaccinate your child protects them from disease, and it protects vulnerable children who can’t get vaccinated for medical reasons," Hoskins said in a statement released Thursday, noting that that bill aims to help parents make informed decisions about vaccinations.
The proposed amendments to the also aim to improve how vaccinations are reported.
Children and youth in Ontario are required to show against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis (whooping cough), meningococcal disease, and for children born in 2010 or later, varicella (chickenpox) to attend publicly-funded schools.
Currently, parents are responsible for reporting their children's immunization records, which are typically logged on a yellow card, to their own local public health unit.
If the proposed changes are passed, health care providers would be required to report vaccines they administer to their local public health unit directly.
Hoskins said the changes would make it easier for parents, and reduce unnecessary suspensions due to out-of-date immunization records.
The bill comes on the heels of the suspension of students in the Waterloo region for not having updated immunization records.
