Ontario suspends unvaccinated children from school and proposes mandatory classes for parents

A new law proposed by Ontario’s health minister would require parents seeking their children’s exemption from being vaccinated on religious or philosophical grounds to first attend an education session on the risks of avoiding vaccination.

The province, Canada’s largest, has struggled for years with low vaccine coverage among schoolchildren, particularly in and around Toronto, where in many schools less than 70% of students are up to date with their recommended vaccination schedule.

In recent years public health authorities have instructed schools across the province to suspend children who are seriously behind in their vaccination schedule or cannot provide evidence of being up to date. This week Ottawa …