Parents in Canada who object to vaccines could be forced to take science classes

Parents who want to exempt their children from immunisation may have to take courses informing them of its importance

Health minister Eric Hoskins has tabled a bill that could see parents taking immunisation courses. (Getty)

Parents in Ontario who want their children to be exempt from immunisation requirements in public schools may have to complete a class in the science of vaccination.

Health Minister Eric Hoskins tabled a bill that if passed would require any parent filing religious or moral objections to complete a course intended to inform them of the importance of immunisation and the dangers of foregoing it.

"Choosing to vaccinate your child protects them from disease, and it protects vulnerable children who can’t get vaccinated for medical reasons," Mr Hoskins said in a statement, adding that the bill aims to help parents make informed decisions about vaccinations.

The proposed amendments to the Immunisation of School Pupils Act also aims to improve how vaccinations are reported.

It comes after over 900 students were suspended from school in Waterloo Region for outdated or incomplete vaccination records, according to CTV Kitchner.

Children can be suspended for up to 20 days if they have an outdated record. But they can return to class once parents provide proof of immunisation or a valid exemption to Public Health.

If the suspension period has passed, the child can return to school even if records are not up-to-date.

Currently, parents must report their children’s own immunisation records to their local public health unit directly.

Under the proposed changes, health care providers would be required to report vaccines they administer to their local public health unit instead, making it easier for parents.

Mr Hoskins said the changes would reduce unnecessary suspensions due to out-of-date immunisation records.

Children in Ontario are required to show proof of immunisation against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, pertussis (whooping cough), meningococcal disease, and for children born in 2010 or later, varicella (chickenpox) to attend publicly-funded schools, according to CTV News.