More than 800 Peel students have been suspended from school for not having up-to-date immunization information, say public health officials who began reviewing the records of several thousand students in October.

Dr. Kathleen Dooling, Peel’s associate medical officer of health, said about 3,200 students — at both public and Catholic schools — didn’t have complete immunization records as of Dec. 16, the deadline for the information to be submitted to Peel Health.

Since then, more than 2,300 students have provided up-to-date information.

The remaining 822 have been suspended for 20 school days, officials said, and they must submit their records by Jan. 26, or face further consequences.

“Part of our mandate is to provide an immunization program, and then to make sure students who are attending schools in Peel have up-to-date immunization records,” Dooling said. “Individuals who do not have complete records have received three letters in three months to get their information updated.”

Peel is required by law to keep track of student immunization records every year. Children are typically immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella.

In October, Dooling said Peel Health began sifting through student records. Those who either hadn’t received the required number of shots, or who didn’t have the necessary paper work, got a letter advising them of suspension after the Dec. 16 deadline.

Peel Health is doing its best to ensure things run smoothly, said Dooling. But it’s a big job — enrollment at the Peel District School Board, for instance, has increased from 120,000 to 150,000 since 2007 — and mistakes do occur, officials say.

Internally, some staff members have expressed frustration at the lack of Regional personnel assigned to the task.

Two nurses and 14 data clerks are responsible for running the student immunization program, and some argue that number isn’t enough to handle the workload.

Some students have reportedly been sent home on suspension despite having their shots up-to-date.  
Dooling said Peel Health has several checks and balances in place to ensure errors are kept to a minimum.

“We make every effort to make this process run smoothly and not to suspend any students incorrectly,” she said. “Occasionally, mistakes may be made, but we work with schools and with the parents to correct any errors that are made in the process.”

Dooling said the federal government is working on a national database that will store student immunization information.

Implementing such a database will make it easier for local health departments to keep tabs on immunizations and ensure student contact information is also up-to-date.

That system will likely be introduced next year, Dooling said.

There are almost 240,000 students in Peel's public and Catholic school boards.