Immunization Notice

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Dear Parent/Guardian or student over the age of 16,

Public health units are required to collect and review immunization records for all students in Ontario schools. The Immunization of School Pupils Act, 1990 (ISPA) requires students to be vaccinated against the following diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease, pertussis (whooping cough); and for students born in 2010 or later, varicella (chicken pox); or submit an exemption form.

The vaccine information Region of Waterloo Public Health has available for your student is shown on page two of the notice you received. Their record is incomplete and the student needs one or more vaccines to protect against the diseases listed above. The vaccines your student needs are shown in the box on the first page of the notice. 

The student may be suspended from school if we do not receive an up-to-date immunization record or a valid exemption.

Suspension dates are:

  • April 2, 2025 for elementary (Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8)
  • May 8, 2025 for secondary (Grades 9 to 12)

To get the student's record up-to-date choose the most appropriate option below:

  • If this student has already received the vaccines shown in the box on the first page of the notice, please report them to us.
  • If this student requires a vaccine, visit your health care provider to get vaccinated. Ask your health care provider to note the vaccines given in the chart on page one of the notice. Once the student has received the vaccine, report it to Public Health. 
  • If you do not wish to vaccinate this student, please visit our vaccine exemptions page to review options. 
  • For additional support navigating this process, please refer to the troubleshooting guide below. 

We appreciate your cooperation in ensuring this student's immunization record is complete. 

 Privacy statement

Your student’s name, date of birth, gender and contact information was provided by their school. If any of the information is wrong, please contact the school to have it corrected.

The information provided or attached to the Immunization Notice is being collected, and will be used by Region of Waterloo Public Health for the purpose of the medical officer of health maintaining an immunization record on the named student and to take appropriate action to prevent certain vaccine preventable diseases in the health unit. This information may be disclosed to the Ministry of Health or other health units for the purpose of the prevention of vaccine preventable diseases. For further details concerning this collection, contact us at 99 Regina Street South, Waterloo, Ontario N2J 4V3.

Troubleshooting Guide

My student has not been vaccinated due to health or religious/philosophical reasons. 

If you received this notice, Public Health does not have a valid vaccine exemption on file for your student. A valid exemption is required to meet the requirements of the Immunization of School Pupils Act.

The process of obtaining an exemption is different for medical and non-medical reasons. Visit vaccine exemptions for more information. 
My student is not up to date because they do not have an Ontario Health card (OHIP card). 
If your student does not have an Ontario Health card, book an appointment at a Public Health Clinic to get the required vaccines at no cost. 
I submitted my student's vaccine records but I still got a notification letter.
Sometimes notification letters have been mailed before Public Health has processed your submission. Your student's record is available to view on Immunization Connect Ontario. You can see if a vaccine is missing or if your student is now up-to-date. For instructions on how to view your student's vaccine record visit vaccine reporting.
My student is in Grade 8 or above.

Your student may have missed their meningococcal vaccine in Grade 7, or it was not reported to Public Health.

They may also be overdue for their tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis booster (one vaccine). This booster is required 10 years after their initial vaccination between ages four and six.

It is also possible Public Health is missing a record of another mandatory vaccine that is noted in the box on the first page of the notice.

Arrange for your student to receive the required vaccine from your health care provider, at a walk-in clinic or at a Public Health Clinic. Once the missing vaccine has been received, report it to Public Health. 
 My situation was not listed above and I still need help.
 For support navigating issues that were not outlined on this page, call 519-575-4400 ext. 5001. 

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