Every time your child receives a vaccine from a health care provider, it must be reported to Public Health. Parents, legal guardians and students 16 and older are each responsible for reporting — doctors, child care facilities and schools do not do this for you.
Immunization records
Keeping immunization records up to date is important at every age.
Required by law
Children in licensed child care or school must have a record on file with Public Health
Parents are responsible
Doctors, child care and schools do not report vaccines on your behalf
ICON is the fastest option
Report and view records online any time
Reporting vaccines to Public Health
Adults do not report vaccines to Public Health, and Public Health does not routinely maintain adult vaccine records. However, if you do have a record on file, you can use ICON to view and print it.
If your child goes to school in Ontario, you must report their immunization record to Public Health.
Use ICON even if vaccines were received outside Canada.
Public Health will review your child’s record to make sure it is up to date and meets Ontario’s vaccine requirements for school attendance.
Vaccine schedules are different across Canada and around the world. Your child may be up to date in your home country, province or territory, but not in Ontario.
Before getting a vaccine at one of our clinics, Public Health must do a full review of your child’s immunization record. After the review is done, contact Vaccinations and Immunizations — a nurse will make vaccine recommendations.
If you are unsure whether your child has all the vaccines needed to attend school in Ontario, contact Public Health.
If you need a language interpreter, let us know the language you speak or the country you are from. We will add an interpreter to the call.
Call 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7425 and follow these instructions:
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You will hear a voice recording. Press 1.
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You will hear a second voice recording. Enter 7425.
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You will hear a third voice recording. You can then select one of these options:
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Press 2 if you need a language interpreter
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Press 3 to book a vaccine appointment
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Press 4 to report an immunization
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Press 5 if you need ICON support
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Stay on the line for all other vaccine inquiries. For example, you can speak with Public Health to make sure your child has all the vaccines needed to attend school in Ontario.
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Immunization Connect (ICON)
Immunization Connect (ICON) is a secure system to report vaccines and access immunization records online.
To create an account you will need:
- Ontario Health Card number, or
- An Ontario Immunization Identification number — call 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7425 if you need one
Watch this video to learn how to create an account and use ICON.
Other ways to report
If you're unable to use ICON, submit a copy of your child's immunization record using one of the following options.
905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7438
Write "Attention Vaccine Preventable Disease" on the envelope
P.O. Box 1052, Station Main
Thorold, ON L2V 0A2
905-688-8225
Email Vaccine Preventable Diseases
By communicating with us, you're agreeing to keep the exchange of personal health information to a minimum. Communication through email is not secure or protected. There is a possibility that information you include in the email can be intercepted in transmission or misdirected. Niagara Region Public Health cannot guarantee security with emails and will not send emails that include your personal health information. Review Public Health's privacy statement.
Public Health may need to follow up with you. If you do not want to be contacted by email for this purpose, call Public Health at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7425.
Write "Attention VPD" on a sealed envelope and drop off at a Public Health office, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Things to know
Include a photo of the immunization record
Attach a photo of your child's immunization record when reporting through ICON to help with accuracy.
Allow five business days
Log back in after submitting to confirm your record has been updated and no additional vaccines are required.
Lost your yellow card?
You can view and print your child's immunization record at any time through ICON.
Children 16 and older
Due to privacy laws, children 16 years of age and older must request their own records.
Bring your record
Bring your yellow card or ICON print out to each vaccine visit, if available. This will help you and your health care provider keep an up-to-date record of which vaccines have been received.
Public Health clinic vaccines
Vaccines received at a Niagara Region Public Health office or school clinic don't need to be reported to Public Health — report those to your health care provider instead.