Welcome to our Media Misinformation Page.
We will be posting articles from Canadian media sources that leave out critical details that parents and students need to make fully informed decisions about vaccination.
Please submit stories to info (at) vaccinechoicecanada.com
For more Media Misinformation stories please see our Media section and our Ontario Ombudsman complaints here and here. The Ontario Ombudsman’s office has informed us that they have no control over media reports.
Why there are conflicting numbers on the flu shot efficacy – Loeb said it’s challenging to pinpoint how effective the flu shot is because it depends on the type of flu – CBC Kitchener-Waterloo – February 13, 2018
“He said it’s important for children vaccinated against the flu, but stopped short of recommending making the flu shot mandatory, like measles mumps and rubella.”
This statement is incorrect. Vaccinations for measles, mumps and rubella are not “mandatory”. This from Canadian National Report on Immunization; 1996 – “Unlike some countries, immunization is not mandatory in Canada; it cannot be made mandatory because of the Canadian Constitution. Only three provinces have legislation or regulations under their health-protection acts to require proof of immunization for school entrance. Ontario and New Brunswick require proof for diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella immunization. In Manitoba, only measles vaccination is covered. It must be emphasized that, in these three provinces, exceptions are permitted for medical or religious grounds and reasons of conscience; legislation and regulations must not be interpreted to imply compulsory immunization.“
High Local Immunization Rate – Ten per cent more students in Grey Bruce are vaccinated compared to the province. – Bayshore Broadcasting – October 3, 2017
“Public health administers HPV, Meningococcal Disease and Hepatitis B vaccines in schools to Grade 7 students. Parents who refuse to have their children immunized are required by law to sign an affidavit acknowledging that fact.”
This article is incorrect. Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act meningococcal is the only disease covered for the vaccines given in Grade 7 in Ontario. And exemptions are available. This article gives the impression that parents are “required by law to sign an affidavit” for HPV and Hepatitis B vaccines. **UPDATE October 6, 2017** this article has been updated and now states, “Parents who refuse to have their children immunized for some vaccines, are required by law to sign an affidavit acknowledging that fact. (They’re not required to get an exemption form for HPV or Hepatitis B).” – Thanks to Bayshore Broadcasting for correcting this.
Students suspended over lack of vaccinations, records – Simcoe Reformer – April 26, 2017
“Diseases which students must be immunized against include measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, tetanus, meningitis and – for children born in 2010 and after – chicken pox.”
This article does not mention exemptions under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, misinforming parents and students.
Immunization level high in Kingston area – Kingston Whig-Standard – April 26, 2017
“‘Locally we always offer a clinic that day to ensure that when parents are asked to pick up their child, they have somewhere to go right away to be immunized and they can go back to school immediately,’ Seaton said. Provincial legislation requires health units to monitor and enforce immunizations for diseases, including tetanus, diphtheria, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis, meningococcal disease and varicella.”
This article does not mention exemptions under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, misinforming parents and students.
Public health continues vaccination enforcement in high schools – Waterloo Region Record – April 13, 2017
“The Immunization of School Pupils Act requires students to be immunized against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella and meningococcal disease. Records must be provided to public health directly.”
This article does not mention exemptions under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, misinforming parents and students.
Students face school suspension if vaccinations not up to date – Northumberland Today – April 12, 2017
“There are eight diseases for which students must have up-to-date immunization. “The Immunization of School Pupils Act requires students attending school in Ontario to have up-to-date vaccinations for eight diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis (whooping cough), varicella (chickenpox) and meningococcal disease. Vaccinations and doses for each disease vary, but follow Ontario’s Routine Immunization Schedule (http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/public/programs/immunization/static/immunization_tool.html).”
This article does not mention exemptions under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, misinforming parents and students.
Over 2800 high school students receive suspension orders for out-of-date immunization records – 570News.com – April 12, 2017
“The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires students to be immunized against:
Tetanus
Diphtheria
Pertussis
Polio
Measles
Mumps
Rubella
Meningococcal Disease”
This article does not mention exemptions under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, misinforming parents and students.
Northumberland students without up-to-date vaccinations face school suspension – NorthumberlandNews.com – April 11, 2017
“The school board will be suspending students unable to prove their vaccinations are up-to-date. … Under the province’s Immunization of School Pupils Act, health units are required to ensure all students attending schools are immunized against; diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis (whooping cough), varcilla (chickenpox) and meningococcal disease. … ‘School suspension is a last resort for us, but by law we are required to ensure all students attending school are immunized against certain diseases,’ Rock said. ‘By checking that students are fully vaccinated, we can ensure everyone in our school communities is protected against common, vaccine-preventable diseases.'”
This article does not mention exemptions under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, misinforming parents and students.
Over 1,000 elementary students suspended over immunization records – CBC News Kitchener-Waterloo – March 29, 2017
Students are required to be immunized against:
Tetanus.
Diptheria.
Pertussis.
Polio.
Measles.
Mumps.
Rubella.
Chickenpox for those born after 2010.
Meningococcal disease.
This article does not mention exemptions under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, misinforming parents and students.
Student immunization records – Split Decision by Olivia Rutt and Jaime Myslik -The Wellington Advertiser – March 2017
“School board right to suspend … This year, over 1,300 county students have to prove they were immunized or face a 20-day suspension from school. … Ontario students must be vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella and the Immunization of School Pupils Act gives the authority to the school to suspend students who are not vaccinated.”
This article does not mention exemptions under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, misinforming parents and students.
Thousands of students could be suspended unless immunized – As many as 5,000 students are not up to date on immunization records- GuelphToday.com – March 9, 2017
“He [Chuck Ferguson] said there are a number of diseases that students must be inoculated for in Ontario under the Immunization of School Pupils Act. There have been recent cases of measles and mumps in the area that are concerning, but the list includes a total of seven diseases. In the province, children and adolescents in primary or secondary school must have proof of immunization for diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, and meningococcal disease, a recent addition to the list. All are vaccine-preventable. ‘We’re taking on the full mandate to enforce the legislation,’ [Chuck] Ferguson said. ‘The province has asked us to do that, just to protect students.'”
There is no mention of exemptions available under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (Ontario) in this article. See our Exemptions page for further details. The Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health commented on this post and they did not attempt to correct or provide appropriate exemption information.
School suspensions loom for hundreds of Grade 11 and 12 students – Windsor Star – February 27, 2017
“Hundreds of local high school students were scrambling Monday to confirm they’ve had all their shots, with the prospect of school suspensions looming Tuesday morning. The students in grades 11 and 12 had until 4:30 p.m. Monday to prove to the Windsor Essex County Health Unit they were fully immunized. They’re the second group of students targeted by the health unit as it attempts to ensure that all school-aged children are immunized and have the records to prove it.”
This article does not mention exemptions. The Windsor Star is a recipient of one of our 2016 Adding Insult to Injury Media Awards.
Nearly 350 Lambton County students suspended for incomplete immunization records – 3,700 first notices were sent to elementary and high school students – CBC Windsor – February 21, 2017
“They’re not allowed into school until we receive information from them, whether it be that they’ve received vaccines, that they’re in the process of receiving vaccines,” said Erin Courtney, Lambton Public Health protection supervisor. … Health units across the province are required to maintain immunization records for students and can ask boards to issue suspensions to parents in order to ensure parents keep their vaccines up to date. … In order to attend school, students have to show proof of immunization against meningococcal disease, whooping cough, chickenpox, tetanus, diphtheria, poliomyelitis, measles, mumps and rubella.”
This article does not mention exemptions under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, misinforming parents and students.
