News

Simcoe, ON September 27^th, 2017 The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit is excited to announce the launch of Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON), a new secure online system for reporting and keeping track of immunization records.

This new, province-wide system enables individuals to:

1. Look up an immunization record for themselves or their child.
2. To submit immunization records to the Haldimand-Norfolk Health, and to update every time a new vaccine is given.

ICON allows Ontarians to securely keep track of their families’ immunization records in a consistent system across the board. The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit is reminding parents to check their children’s immunization records to make sure they are up-to-date.

Supported by Canada Health Infoway, the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care partnered with Mohawk College in Hamilton on the design and development of ICON.  The first release involved Hamilton Public Health, Toronto Public Health, Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington Public Health and the Grey Bruce Health Unit. The Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit is part of the second wave of release rolling out across the province.

“In the past, each health unit or public health department in the province had their own reporting system which varied widely region to region, “said Sarah Titmus, manager for the Infectious Disease and Vaccine Preventable Disease Team. “ICON offers a much more streamlined and consistent way for people to update and access their family’s records. For public health professionals who require up-to-date information in the case of an outbreak, this information is vitally important.”

Up-to-date immunization helps keep everyone protected from diseases that can easily spread through schools and the community. Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, children attending school in Ontario require up-to-date records against diseases including measles, mumps and polio. Immunization has made these once common deadly diseases rare in children.

As of September 25^th, 2017, ICON will be accessible through the HNHU website at hnhu.org/ immunization-reporting

For more information about ICON and immunization, please visit hnhu.org.

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Media contact:

Sarah Titmus, Manager
Infectious Disease Team
Haldimand-Norfolk Health Unit
519-426-6170 or 905-318-6623 Ext. 3205