Proposed amendments to the Public Health Act that would see the government cross-reference immunization records held by Alberta Health with school enrolment records are welcome, says Chinook's Edge School Division superintendent Kurt Sacher.
“Typically with something like that we really try to be cooperative with public health initiatives because it meets a need of ours that we want to have the safest possible schools for everyone involved,” Sacher told the Gazette.
“We like to work collaboratively with the health department. If we can be helpful and it doesn't cause any difficulties for our parents, we want to work with them.”
Put forward on Nov. 7, Bill 28 is aimed at increasing immunization rates for students for diseases such as whooping cough and measles, the province says.
“Immunization saves lives,” said Minister of Health Sarah Hoffman. “We'll be better equipped to respond to outbreaks and public health officials will have more ability to provide information to families about the importance of vaccination.”
Under the changes, if a student is found to have incomplete immunization records, the government could contact parents to explain the current policy that requires unimmunized students to stay home in the event of an outbreak.
“Parents who decide not to update their child's immunization information will be informed they are required to keep their children home if certain highly contagious vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles occur at their school,” she said.
“In some cases, children may need to stay home for several weeks.”
The province hopes the change will prompt more parents to have their kids immunized, bringing the vaccination rates to 95 per cent or higher, she said.
Dr. Karen Grimsrud, chief medical officer of health, applauded the proposed changes.
“The amendments will give public health professionals better data on who is and isn't immunized in the event of an outbreak, allowing health professionals to quickly identify children who are at risk and intervene to protect their health and the health of others,” said Grimsrud.
If Bill 28 passes, the government says it will start cross-referencing by the start of the 2017-18 school year.
