The superintendents of St. Albert’s two largest school systems say they’ll take their cues from health authorities when it comes to vaccinations in schools.
David Keohane, superintendent of the Greater St. Albert Catholic Regional Division, which operates the Catholic schools in the city and surrounding communities, said no policy has been developed or discussed at the local board level.
“Our standing position would always be to support the expertise of the day from Alberta Health Services,” he said.
Mandatory vaccinations in schools has been a hot-button issue this week, with Health Minister Stephen Mandel rejecting a call from Alberta Liberal leader Dr. David Swann to make vaccinations mandatory in the province’s schools.
Concerns about vaccination rates in Alberta have been raised following recent measles outbreaks in California and Quebec, which have been attributed to unvaccinated children spreading the disease.
Alberta Health reports measles vaccination rates have dropped by about six per cent since 2005, with the most recent figures from 2013 showing an immunization rate of 86 per cent in the province and slightly higher at 89 per cent for St. Albert in particular.
Mandel reportedly told the Legislature last Thursday he encourages all parents to vaccinate their children because vaccinations can save lives, but ultimately it’s a parental decision.
Keohane echoed that sentiment, noting while he understands the importance of immunization, it’s a decision that should be made at the family level and isn’t one that officials have heard concern from parents about.
“We understand the final analysis in decision-making is with the parent, and we always want to make sure parents are adequately and fully informed,” he said.
Regardless, he added, the division would co-operate with Alberta Health Services or the provincial government when it comes to distributing information about advisories or immunization protocols.
St. Albert Public Schools Supt. Barry Wowk said the topic hasn’t come up much around the public school board table but that division also defers to the judgment of public health officials.
“All I can tell you is we follow whatever the health unit says,” he said.
