About 800 high school students across Guelph, Wellington and Dufferin County could be facing suspension next week due to missing immunizations or out of date records.
Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, students in Ontario are required to be vaccinated against several illnesses, including tetanus, polio, meningitis and mumps.
Religious and medical exemptions are allowed under specific conditions.
Around 70 per cent of the missing mandatory vaccines are for tetanus, diphtheria and whooping cough, according to WDG Public Health, though it varies for each student.
High school students need to have records updated by Feb. 7 to avoid suspension on Feb. 12. Last year, just under 600 students were initially suspended across the Upper Grand and Wellington Catholic school boards.
For elementary students across WDG, there are about 4,300 students with outstanding vaccines or records for a number of illnesses, including for measles, polio, meningitis and chicken pox.
To avoid suspension on March 19, elementary students need to have records updated by March 14.
Students with incomplete immunization records can be suspended from school for up to 20 days.
You can read more about vaccine requirements, suspensions and exemptions here.