Vaccinations Required for School Attendance
The Immunization of School Pupils Act requires every Public Health unit to have either an up-to-date vaccination record or an original legal exemption form on file for each child attending school.
Children must have proof of immunization for the following diseases to attend primary or secondary school in Ontario.
- Tetanus
- Diphtheria
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Polio
- Measles
- Mumps
- Rubella
- Meningococcal
- Varicella (chickenpox)
Hepatitis B, Meningococcal and HPV vaccinations are available for Grade 7 children in September.
Vaccination Clinics in High Schools
Public Health offers vaccination clinics in high schools across Niagara in February and March each year. These clinics are for secondary school students who are not up-to-date with their vaccinations.
Parents/legal guardians will receive a copy of the clinic schedule by mail in their Immunization Notice package.
What Parents / Legal Guardians Need to Do
If your child has followed the immunization schedule, no further vaccines will be needed.
Check with your health care provider or call us at 905-688-8248 ext. 7425 (toll-free: 1-888-505-6074) to ensure your child has all the vaccines needed to attend school.
Have your health care provider give any immunizations that are missing or book an appointment at one of our immunization clinics.
If you choose to exempt your child from vaccinations for medical, religious or philosophical reasons, you need to submit an exemption form.
Suspensions for Students Without Complete Immunization Records (or Legal Exemption)
Orders for suspension from school are issued in the spring for children who do not have complete vaccination information on file at Public Health for one of the following reasons:
You have not reported all of your child’s vaccinations to Niagara Region Public Health
Call 905-688-8248 ext. 7425 to report this information so that we can update your child's file (have your child's yellow immunization record with you when you call).
Your child is overdue for one or more immunizations
Contact your child's doctor / health care provider to get vaccination records or to make an appointment to receive the required vaccine(s).
If you do not have a doctor/health care provider, you may book an appointment at a Public Health vaccination clinic by calling 905-688-8248 ext. 7425.
Once you receive the information and/or your child receives his/her vaccination(s), call the Immunization Reporting Line at 905-688-8248 ext. 7425 and have your child's yellow Immunization Record with you when you call.
You have chosen not to have your child vaccinated (for medical, religious or philosophical reasons) but have not provided us with a completed legal exemption form.
Students without an up-to-date immunization record or an original legal exemption form on file at Public Health could be suspended from school for up to 20 school days.
Reporting your Child's Vaccinations
Remember to report any immunizations your child receives to Public Health. Your health care provider does not report these records for you.
More about why vaccination is one of the best ways you can protect your health.