Child Immunization and School Clinics

Every year, the Health Department reviews immunization records of all students attending school to ensure they are up to date for required vaccines to attend Ontario schools. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, these steps are important to help keep your children safe in their schools and community from possible outbreaks of some vaccine-preventable diseases. The Health Department is sending out reminder letter.

Students will not be at risk for suspension for overdue immunizations for the 2020-2021 school year.

If you received an immunization reminder letter from us, we are missing vaccine information for your child.

Here is what you should do next:

• Talk to your health care provider to find out if your child is up to date.
• Compare the record on the letter with your health care provider’s record.
• If your child needs vaccines, see if you can make an appointment with your health care provider. You can also make a plan with your healthcare provider to receive any missing vaccines in the future. If you don’t have one,a health care provider, try calling walk-in clinics in your area as some of them may be able to give your child the missing vaccines. Bring the letter with you to your appointment.
• Give us the update for the missing vaccines.

If your child cannot get vaccinated due to medical or personal beliefs, see the immunization exemption section.

You may be able to view your child’s vaccine record online. You can also call us for a copy.

All students under 18 years of age need vaccinations for the following diseases, as required by the Immunization of School Pupils Act:

• tetanus
• diphtheria
• pertussis
• polio
• measles
• mumps
• rubella
• varicella (if born on or after January 1, 2010)
• meningococcal disease group C (under 12 years of age)
• meningococcal disease group ACYW-135 (over 12 years of age)

Get more information on the Immunization of School Pupils Act.

Medical exemptions

If your child cannot get vaccines due to medical reasons, download the Statement of Medical Exemption - ISPA form. This form must be completed by a doctor or nurse practitioner.

Conscience or religious exemptions

COVID-19 update: In-person education sessions and the exemption process have been put on hold. Students will not be suspended from school during the 2020-2021 school year. Please check back in the future for updates related to obtaining an exemption for your child.

Durham Region Health Department gives up to three vaccines to grade 7 students. For the 2020-2021 school year, school-based vaccinations will be offered at community sites by appointment only. They will not be offered at your child’s school. It is safe for your child to get multiple vaccines at one time.

Book your appointment online.

The following school-based vaccinations are free at Durham Region Health Department clinics. They are not free through your health care provider:

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) (2 doses, 6 months apart)
• Hepatitis B (2 doses, 6 months apart)
• Meningococcal C-ACYW135 (Men C-ACYW135) (one dose only)

Get more information about the grade 7 vaccines.

Consent forms will be completed on the day of the clinic with the immunizing nurse.

To accommodate grade 7 and 8 students, Durham Region Health Department has booked multiple community venues throughout the Region.

Future clinics are in the process of being planned. At this time, there are no clinics available. Please continually check back as more locations, dates, and times are added. We thank you for your patience as we navigate these unprecedented times.

On the clinic day, encourage your child to:

• Eat breakfast, lunch or a snack before your appointment.
• Wear a shirt with loose sleeves. Wear a mask to the clinic. 
• Use distractions such as books, music and video games.
• Take slow, deep breaths during immunization.

1. COVID-19 information is provided as a link at the time of booking. You will receive a booking reminder email 48 hours prior to your appointment with further information on what to expect at the clinic and directions to the clinic location.
2. Masks are required for both student and support person. Only one support person is allowed to enter the clinic with the student.
3. Please do not enter the clinic until a nurse calls you at the time of your appointment to conduct COVID-19 screening.
4. Please arrive to your appointment on time. Do not arrive more than five minutes early.
5. COVID-19 distancing and infection control procedures are ensured throughout the clinic process.
6. Your child will get the vaccine through a very small needle in their upper arm.
7. After the injection, you will receive an immunization update to keep for your records. The nurses will observe your child in the clinic for 15 minutes.

If your child missed one or more doses of the vaccine(s) in the school in the spring due to COVID-19 closures, you can book your child into any of the clinics mentioned in our clinic dates section.