Vaccine | Direction |
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Hepatitis B (not publicly funded unless high-risk*) Persons with hepatitis B may not show symptoms but can spread the virus through body fluids. For personal protection, all staff should be vaccinated. |
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Measles is very contagious and can spread through the air even after the infectious person has left the room. |
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Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap) Tetanus (lockjaw) is naturally occurring in the soil. Pertussis, also called the "100 day cough" is very dangerous to young infants. |
A dose of Tdap can now be received in each pregnancy for free as part of the publicly funded immunization program. |
Varicella (chickenpox) - not publicly funded if born before 2000 Chickenpox can spread through the air, days before the rash is present. It can lead to severe complications. |
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*Household members, risk factors for sexually transmitted infections (STI) (multiple sexual partners, previous STI), injection drug use, men who have sex with men, chronic liver and kidney disease.
**Individuals may have received a two dose series of hepatitis B vaccine as part of a voluntary immunization program in school in Ontario
***A second dose of MMR is highly recommended if travel is planned.
Vaccine | Strongly encouraged |
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COVID-19 vaccination | At least three doses of COVID-19 vaccine, including a booster dose in the fall of 2022. No documentation is required for Public Health. |
Annual vaccination is strongly encouraged. No documentation is required for Public Health. |
Under the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014:
Some vaccines are publicly funded (free) and others are not (fee-for-service).
The Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 requires that child care providers ensure that a child enrolling in a child care program for the first time is current with their vaccinations:
Public Health doesn't collect staff immunization records or routinely review them.
Encourage staff to call the Vaccine Preventable Disease program for any questions or concerns they may have about vaccines at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7425.
Child care educators seeking exemptions from vaccination for religious, conscientious or medical reasons, must submit one of the Ministry of Education exemption forms
Forms
The child care licensee must collect and keep all exemption forms at the facility for review by a Ministry of Education licensing officer. These forms are not collected by Public Health.
Child care providers must complete the Child Care / Nursery School Monthly Report Form by the 10th of each month whether there are changes or not. If you don't have a copy of the form, call 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7425.
When you have a new child enrol at your child care centre, you will need to follow the instructions under "Checking Vaccination Records" section for children.
You don't need to report records for children who are also attending a publicly funded school or private school to Public Health. Their record retention falls under the Immunization of School Pupils Act.
Parents are required to report their child's vaccinations to public health.
If there's an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease at the child care centre, unvaccinated and not fully vaccinated staff and children will be considered at risk. This means they may not be allowed to be at the child care centre until Public Health declares the outbreak is over.