Stephanie Deshaise wants the Porcupine Health Department to specify that people have a choice whether or not to vaccinate their children.
A Timmins mother is speaking out about what she feels is a lack of transparency in information being shared regarding vaccinations in schools.
Stephanie Deshaise, a registered nurse and mother of two, said the letters from the Porcupine Health Unit (PHU) distributed to parents about immunizations are confusing to people about whether or not to vaccinate their children. He said that it was not specified that he could choose. She said the health department follows state law.
“It's just changing a few words in the letter. I don't care how they phrase it, for example, but people need to be made aware that they have a choice,” she says. I did.
Enforcement of the School Student Immunization Act (ISPA) has been suspended during the COVID-19 pandemic. The health department has started implementing the program again this year.
Required vaccines are diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease, pertussis, and chickenpox.
RELATED: Students who aren't up to date on vaccines will receive suspension notices by month's end
In January, the Department of Health sent more than 2,000 suspension prevention packages to parents and guardians of children who did not meet ISPA requirements.
The health department said more than 90% of students who received packages took steps to meet the requirements. Approximately 200 students had received suspension notices by the April 30 suspension date, but the health department said that number represents less than 2 percent of the region's student population.
Ms. Deshaise graduated in 2009 as a registered nurse. She worked at the PHU for over 6 years, and at the hospital for 1 and a half years. She became an osteopath in 2016.
When her children were two years old, she decided to stop vaccinating them. They have remained exempt ever since. They are currently in 7th grade and her in 8th grade.
“This is just a personal belief. I am a very holistic, natural person and believe in boosting the immune system rather than chemical vaccinations,” she said.
“My son had a severe reaction to the vaccinations he had received over a period of 15 months. He had a fever for three days and was unresponsive.”
Deshaise emailed the health department in the fall and contacted the health department again earlier this month, hoping to get the wording of the letter to parents changed.
In PHU's response to Deshaies' follow-up email, PHU said that as Ontario's public health department, “we must comply with the School Student Immunization Act (ISPA) to ensure the safety and health of all students. ” he said. ”
“Immunization is part of this effort and provides a safe and effective way to protect children from vaccine-preventable diseases,” the health department wrote.
If a student cannot be vaccinated for religious, medical or philosophical reasons, families are encouraged to check PHU's website, which shares detailed information about exemptions, the health department said. Stated.
In a written response to TimminsToday, PHU's Immunization Program Manager Kendra Luxmore provided the same information she gave to Deshaies. She gave no explanation as to why her letter to her parents did not provide clear options.
“Under ISPA, health departments review vaccination records to ensure that students attending Ontario schools are up to date on required vaccines or have a valid exemption on file. We have a responsibility,” she said.
“Once records are reviewed and it is determined that a student has not been vaccinated, support will begin via letters and phone calls to discuss options, including vaccination and valid exemptions.”
Luxmore said they are regularly sharing information about the process with the school community to ensure education partners are kept up to date on the process.
“Our immunization team will continue to support families by coordinating vaccination appointments, providing immunizations, directing educational supports, or assisting families through the exemption process upon request,” she said. Stated.
Anyone who wants to apply for a vaccination exemption, whether for medical or medical reasons, must complete several steps. The process includes watching a vaccine education video, taking a quiz to obtain a vaccine education certificate, and getting a form signed by an oath commissioner, such as a city clerk or state judge.
All instructions are available on the PHU website here.
Individuals who have not been vaccinated or have not submitted a valid exemption request are subject to suspension.
Deshaise said her niece was one of the students who received a two-day suspension two weeks ago due to lack of communication regarding the exemption.
“On Thursdays and Fridays before these waivers were required, the entire lobby of the health department was packed with people. Don't tell me the public is aware, because we're getting a lot of threatening letters here. If they knew the way, they would have done it a long time ago,” she said.
