HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2014-04-23, Page 88 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, April 23, 2014
Health Minister Deb Matthews defends system
that allows parents to opt kids out of vaccinations
Jonathon Sher
QMI Agency
Ugly truths lurk behind a plan by
Ontario's health minister to expand
the number of vaccines kids must get
to attend school.
For while Deb Matthews speaks of
requiring vaccines, parents have
always been able to opt their children
out and will still be able to do so by
simply filling out and notarizing a
form, public health officials say.
That exemption puts kids at risk,
says the London region's medical
officer of health. He also says its elim-
ination would improve their health.
"Our population would be better
protected against diseases that affect
children," said Dr. Chistopher Mackie,
of the Middlesex -London Health
Unit.
While some who oppose vaccines
say it's unethical to force anyone to
get one, Mackie thinks the ethical
argument should be turned on its
head.
"(Parents are) robbing a child of
protection and (putting) other chil-
dren at risk too," he said.
Matthews doesn't see it that way,
not when asked if she has an obliga-
tion to close the loophole through
which tens of thousands of students
Stuff That Bus Campaign wrapping up soon
St. Anne's school news
Claire Gordon
Minister of Public Relations
The past week at St. Anne's was filled
with lots of preparation for the Easter
season.
The Stuff That Bus Campaign con-
tinued to run throughout the week
and will continue until the end of
April. Just a reminder that all food
donations are welcome.
The school community also partici-
pated in a Holy Thursday Prayer Serv-
ice as we prepared for Easter.
This week also marked the mid -
semester turn around and the end of
the first half of second semester. Mid-
term report cards will be handed out
April 24th.
Last Wednesday was the annual
spring Coffee House at St. Anne's. The
night was a great success and so many
talented students came out and per-
formed for their fellow peers. Thank
you to all of the performers for sharing
your beautiful talents with us.
The staff and students then began
their Easter holidays and long week-
end where they enjoyed four days off
to be with family and friends to cele-
brate Easter.
Next week we're excited celebrate
our Administrative Professionals on
Wednesday and or Custodial Staff on
Friday. We also host the Elementary
Basketball tournament and will cele-
brate Earth Day.
HYDRANT/ BLOW -OFF FLUSHING NOTICE
Hydrant and Blow -off flushing will take place through the Day in:
D VANASTRA during the week of April 28th to May 2nd, 2014
BRUCEFIELD, SEAFORTH & EGMONDVILLE during the
weeks of May 5th to May 9th and May 12th to May 16th, 2014.
The water is safe, however you may notice cloudy or coloured
water. If you experience discoloration of water, run a cold water
tap until the water runs clear. It is recommended to refrain from
doing laundry, especially whites, on these dates.
You may also experience reduced water pressure.
CH2MHILL (519) 527-1004
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don't get vaccinated.
"Less than two per cent of
parents make that choice," she
said.
Even if she's right, with 2
million students in Ontario,
that means 40,000 go without
vaccines after their parents
sign an affidavit affirming their
position based on conscience
or religion.
This year in London and
Middlesex County, exemptions
were filed for 2,268 children
out of a total student popula-
tion of 69,521.
Public Health Ontario esti-
mates far more kids go without
vaccines, many, apparently,
whose parents didn't file an
exemption.
In 2012, more than 20 per
cent of 7 -year-olds weren't
vaccinated against diphtheria,
tetanus or polio.
That same year, 95 per cent
of 7 -year-olds didn't get the
recommended two shots of
varicella.
Matthews defended a system
that allows parents to opt out,
saying her goal is to persuade
them to change their mind
rather than require them to get
their kids vaccinated.
"Education is the most
important thing we can do,"
she said.
Asked if education has
driven down the percentage of
parents who opt out, Matthews
was unsure.
But the answer is out there
— and it's the opposite of what
the health minister would
hope. From 2008 to 2012, the
percentage option out grew
every year for diphtheria, teta-
nus or polio, data collected by
Public Health Ontario shows.
Parents who don't get their
kids vaccinated often say they
fear the vaccine creates more
risk than benefit.
But public health officials
say the opposite is true: Many
deadly and debilitating
diseases have been wiped out,
and in Ontario in 2012, there
were only 56 serious adverse
reactions and no deaths in
nearly 7 . 8 million
vaccinations.
Nominations for AMDSB Always
Learning awards being accepted
The Avon Maitland Board of
Trustees has a seven-year his-
tory of recognizing staff, stu-
dents and community mem-
bers for significant
contributions to education
within Avon Maitland.
In September 2012, the board
approved the current four-year
strategic plan, which included
the introduction of a new mis-
sion statement and re -visioning
of goals and core priorities.
The board is pleased to
announce that nominations for
the Always Learning Awards
(formerly the Key Contribution
Awards), are now open for
2014.
The board's mission state-
ment is "Engage, Inspire, Inno-
vate ...Always Learning" and
the Strategic Plan states that We
will create positive, inclusive
learning environments and
maximize student outcomes.
We will work toward that by
valuing our students, our staff,
our families and our communi-
ties using principles of charac-
ter, equity and sustainability.
The plan will be the primary
consideration when someone
is nominated for an "Always
Learning Award'!
Awards will be presented to
individuals or groups who have
gone above and beyond to
engage, inspire and innovate.
Nominations are now being
accepted and can be submitted
on-line at http://yourschools.
ca/2014/04/17/2014-always-
learning- awards/.
The deadline for nomina-
tions is Fri., May 2 at 4:00 p.m.
The Always Learning Awards
will be presented on June 11
along with the board's years of
service recognition and retire-
ment celebration.
West Perth man, 19, killed in single -vehicle rollover
A 19 -year-old man from West
Perth is dead following a sin-
gle -vehicle rollover Friday
morning on Perth Line 24.
Police were called to the
scene between Roads 170 and
179, where sometime before
6:30 a.m. a westbound red
Dodge Dakota pickup truck left
the roadway and rolled in the
north ditch.
The driver was ejected from
the vehicle. Both speed and a
lack of seatbelt use were factors
in the fatality, police said.
The victim has been identi-
fied as Travis Brown.
Police closed a section of
Line 24 for several hours to
investigate and cleanup the
scene.
Body of missing man found in Lake Huron at Goderich
The search for a Waterloo man
who went missing on Nov. 26,
2013 has ended with the discov-
ery of a body in Lake Huron at
Goderich.
Huron OPP said the deceased
has been identified as Andrew
Quinn, 51. Foul play is not sus-
pected in his death, police said.
Quinn's car was found parked
on Cove Road in Goderich on
Nov. 27, triggering an extensive
search of the shoreline and
water.
His body was spotted in the ice
and water a short distance from
the shore by people walking
nearby on April 18 around 2 p.m.
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