The Garden Valley School Division (GVSD) is addressing the conversation in the community regarding in-school immunization clinics planned for this year.

"Garden Valley School Division supports the concept of public health and child immunizations, those are important pieces of the way Manitobans do life and we understand the importance of that, and schools have definitely been the location that Public Health has been able to administer those child immunizations throughout the years," said Laurie Dyck, GVSD Board Chair.

However, considering the recent conversation in the community regarding in-school immunization clinics, Dyck says the GVSD Board of Trustees has engaged with local MLAs, Manitoba's Minister of Education, and Public Health to explore other options for children to be immunized. "We believe that parents definitely have the decision, and should be engaged in their child's immunization as they so choose, and we believe it should be considered it be moved off our school grounds for this year."

"I believe, Public Health has always informed parents as far as the regular childhood immunization program, it's targeted to certain ages. It's due to some of the other concerns in the community. There are some other concerns in the community about what may or may not happen and the school leadership just doesn't need to deal with those questions and concerns because public health is not our mandate," added Dyck. "We just want to create space and divide that, and allow Public Health to deal directly with parents, and we can continue teaching kids."

According to Dyck, school and division leadership have been fielding questions from parents and guardians. She explained, this is what triggered the Board's own discussion around how it could advocate to ease some of those concerns, or create clarity around those questions.

Dyck noted, the Board is awaiting a response to the advocating work and conversations that it has been a part of, and says officials will share any new information when it's available.

In a statement provided to PembinaValleyOnline, the Borderland School Division says it is advocating for mandatory parental consent when immunization occurs at the school immunization clinic.

Western School Division submitted the following statement.

Public Education is most effective when there is a healthy relationship between schools, families, and the community. And mutual trust is essential for the best relationships. The community of Western School Division, including students, parents, staff, and the community at large have collectively come through a time with the most dramatic changes to our daily routines in living memory. And throughout that, there has been amazing support for the needs of each group. With a new school year, we have new challenges to face together. Public Education will continue to partner with Public Health, and there have been many questions raised about parental consent around in-school vaccine clinics. Public Education in Manitoba has a long history of respecting parental consent. While the topic of vaccinations in school is new to most of us, the precedent is set that parental consent is required for the continued trust and healthy relationship between schools, families, and the community. While it will still look different than we are used to, we are looking forward to a great year.