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Vaccine exemptions

By law in Ontario, Public Health must have an up-to-date immunization record or valid exemption on file for every child attending licensed child care or school. If you're choosing not to vaccinate your child, you must submit a valid exemption.

Legal requirements

The exemption process differs depending on whether your child attends child care or school, and whether the exemption is for medical or personal (conscience or religious belief) reasons.

If your child is not vaccinated

Without vaccines, it's important to understand the risks and your responsibilities:

Also consider other possible implications for your child:

  • In the event of an outbreak, Public Health may exclude unvaccinated children from child care or school for their protection
  • Some volunteer applications may request proof of vaccination
  • Some college and university programs require up-to-date vaccinations, including medical, child and youth care, education placements and practicum courses

Exemption process

Once an exemption is applied, Public Health will not send vaccination reminders for exempted vaccines. All steps must be completed in order. Use the vaccine exemption checklist as a guide.

Child care exemption forms expire when your child enters school in September. You will need to complete the school exemption process during the year your child starts school.

  1. Download and complete the Ontario Ministry of Education's Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief (Child Care and Early Years Act) form.
    • When completing the online form, choose "Parent of a Child" under "Choose Your Status." Choosing "Individual" will generate the wrong form for a child care exemption.
  2. Have the form signed by a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits. Keep a copy of the commissioned form for your records.
  3. Provide the original completed Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief to your licensed child care operator. They will send a copy to Public Health to be applied to your child's immunization record.

Child care exemption forms expire when your child enters school in September. You will need to complete the school exemption process during the year your child starts school.

  1. Download and complete the Ontario Ministry of Education's Statement of Medical Exemption (Child Care and Early Years Act) form.
  2. Have an Ontario doctor or nurse practitioner complete the form. Keep a copy for your personal records.
  3. Submit the original completed Statement of Medical Exemption to your licensed child care operator. They will send a copy to Public Health to be applied to your child's immunization record.

If you've already watched the prescribed vaccine education video and completed a certificate for an older child, you do not need to watch the video again, but you do still need to fill out the online form to create a new Vaccine Education Certificate.

  1. Watch the prescribed vaccine education video and fill in the online form to create a Vaccine Education Certificate. You will need an email address so the certificate can be emailed to you — save a copy with your health records.
  2. The same parent or legal guardian who completed Step 1 must download and complete the Ontario Ministry of Health's Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief (Immunization of School Pupils Act) form. You will need one form per child.
  3. The same parent or legal guardian who completed Steps 1 and 2 must have the Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief form signed by a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits. Bring a printed copy of the Vaccine Education Certificate with you. Keep a copy of the commissioned form for your records.
  4. Submit the Vaccine Education Certificate and the commissioned Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief together to Public Health. These documents must be received at the same time — if they are not, the document received will be returned and you will be asked to resubmit.

Sometimes there is evidence a child is immune to a disease, or a medical condition may prevent vaccination.

  1. Download and complete the Ontario Ministry of Health's Statement of Medical Exemption (Immunization of School Pupils Act) form.
  2. Have an Ontario doctor or nurse practitioner complete the form. Keep a copy for your personal records.
  3. Submit the original completed Statement of Medical Exemption to Public Health.

Finding a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits

For a conscience or religious belief exemption, the statement form must be signed by a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits in Ontario.

Free service through Niagara Region

Call 905-980-6000 or 1-800-263-7215 to book an appointment with a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits through the Office of the Regional Clerk.

You can also contact your local city or town. There may be a fee. Before you go, confirm:

  • Whether they have a Commissioner who handles Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief Affidavits
  • Whether there is a cost and what payment methods are accepted
  • Whether an appointment is needed
  • What photo identification is required

Submitting exemption information to Public Health

Once all steps are complete, submit your exemption documents to Public Health using one of the following methods. When all information has been received and confirmed to be complete, accurate and valid, the exemption will be applied to your child's immunization record.

Mail

Write "Attention Vaccine Preventable Disease" on the envelope
P.O. Box 1052, Station Main
Thorold, ON L2V 0A2

Drop off

Write "Attention Vaccine Preventable Disease" on a sealed envelope and drop off at a Public Health office, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Fax

905-688-8225

Email

vpd@niagararegion.ca

Email is not secure — keep personal health information to a minimum. Public Health will not send emails containing your personal health information. See Public Health's privacy statement. If you do not want to be contacted by email for follow-up, call 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7425.

Making sure your exemption is valid

Exemptions are applied only when all information received is complete, accurate and valid. To avoid delays or having your form returned:

  • Complete all sections of the form in full — no spelling or date mistakes
  • Submit only a current version of the form
  • Do not make any alterations to the form — crossed-out sections or modifications render it invalid
  • For school age children: the parent or legal guardian who watches the education video must be the same one who completes and commissions the form

If Public Health has not applied the exemption, call 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7425 to find out why.

Cancelling an exemption

If a medical exemption no longer applies, or if you've changed your mind and want to vaccinate your child, contact Vaccinations and Immunizations and a nurse will help you with a catch-up vaccine schedule.