The parents of students entering school for the first time should be required to hand over a document outlining the vaccinations that their child has received, according to a group representing Canadian doctors.

The Canadian Medical Association passed a motion at a meeting in Halifax this week calling for new rules that would require that all parents submit a “declaration of immunization” for their child. The motion also states that parents of children who have not been properly vaccinated should be required to meet with public health officials and explain why.

“Vaccination is the most effective and safest public health measure that we have, so we are suggesting that before children start school it should will be necessary to show proof of immunizations but we are also taking it one step further and saying that there should be a mandatory conversation that takes place if children are not up to date,” CMA president Cindy Forbes told CP24 on Thursday afternoon. “Really, we see this as an opportunity to have a discussion with parents or caregivers to try to optimize vaccination rates.”

Currently students in Ontario are required to have been vaccinated for nine different diseases, including measles, mumps and chickenpox, but the requirement varies from province to province.

By pushing for a national standard, Forbes said the CMA hopes to create a conversation and boost immunization rates.

“It is an opportunity for education. As you know there is a lot of information available that is inaccurate and has some people fearful,” she said. “It is also an opportunity to find out if there are any other barriers for immunization. Do they not have a family physician, do they have issues with transportation or is there some other reason? There can be many reasons why children’s vaccinations may not be up to date.”

In addition to requiring parents to submit vaccination histories to their child’s school, Forbes said the CMA also voted in favour of a motion calling for a national immunization schedule during their meeting in Halifax.

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