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 letters.

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 health care 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)

Immunization information request form for junior kindergarten and new registrants

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.

Visit our COVID-19 Vaccines page to learn more about medical exemptions for COVID-19 vaccines.

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 2021-2022 school year, vaccines will not be offered at your school. In the near future, we will be offering community clinics for eligible students who live in or attend school in Durham Region.

The following school-based vaccinations are free at Health Department clinics. Some health care providers are offering the vaccine for free due to the pandemic. You may wish to contact your health care provider to discuss receiving the school-based vaccines through their office.

• 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.

At this time, there are no clinics available. Please contact your health care provider to discuss administration of school-based vaccines. Continue to check back here for updates about future clinics and the booking process. We thank you for your patience as we navigate these unprecedented times.

Before the vaccination, let your child know:

• What to expect
• Why the vaccines are important
• That the needle might feel like a pinch in the upper arm that only lasts a few seconds
• That the nurse will help to decrease their fear/pain (e.g.: distraction, deep breathing, relaxing their arm, talking them through the experience etc.)

On the day of the vaccination, have your child:

• Eat something before their appointment
• Wear a shirt with loose sleeves
• Wear a mask to access the clinic
• Follow instructions provided by the public health nurse and your reminder email to access the clinic

If your child is nervous about getting needles, use the CARD system to have a more positive vaccination experience.

If your child missed one or more doses of the vaccine(s) due to COVID-19 closures, please contact your health care provider to discuss administration of school-based vaccines. Continue to check back here for updates about future community clinics.