Immunizations hit high gear for Public Health

By Bruce Corcoran bruce@chathamvoice.com

It took a threatening letter to kick-start students and their parents into action earlier this year.

That according to CK Public Health.

Carina Caryn, program manager with CK Public Health, said standard student immunizations in the wake of the pandemic were seriously backlogged, but clearing that logjam did not happen in earnest until students were threatened with suspension for not having upto-date shots.

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the health unit staff not conducting regular inschool immunizations for various infectious diseases. Caryn said staff are still people don’t report experiences motivated by hate or bias directed at them, just because of who they are,” said Rebecca Haskell-Thomas. “Reporting to the police is still an option, but this new reporting tool gives people a different way to get support.”

Those who make a report are offered the option of submitting it anonymously or they can provide their contact information and indicate if they would like help from the team. Volunteer crisis responders, trained in trauma-informed care and in diversity, equity and inclusion principles, can help.

Those looking to submit a report can do so at ckvictimservices.com/re- port-hate, or by leaving a message at 519-436-6630. Calls will be responded to within three business days. working to get up to date. In the summer of 2022, Public Health mailed out more than 7,000 letters to students notifying them they were overdue for their immunizations and offered suggestions on how they could get caught up. At the beginning of 2023, there were still 5,000 students who were not up to date. Another letter went out.

All information is confidential, unless the client gives consent for the information to be shared.

In early February, suspension notices went out, notifying about 4,000 students that if they weren’t up to date with their shots, they’d be suspended as of March 7.

Caryn said that sparked people into action.

“It was one of those things we had to pull the trigger on,” she said.