Immunizations and Vaccines
Immunization leads to improved health in individuals and the general population. Vaccines help save lives and prevent serious illnesses.
Vaccines used in Canada are very safe. They are developed in accordance with the highest standards and are continually monitored for safety and effectiveness.
Minor side-effects from vaccines are common but go away quickly. These can include mild fever and some redness, swelling or tenderness at the spot where the vaccine was administered.
Routine Vaccination Catch-up Clinics: Infants - Grade 12, Pregnant Individuals
Book your vaccine appointment here
Who can book into this clinic:
- Infants, preschool and school aged children (up to grade 12) missing routine vaccines
- Infants and children qualifying for high-risk hepatitis B vaccine
- Pregnant individuals requiring diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), preferably after 27 weeks gestation
- Individuals born in 2002, 2003, 2004 have extended eligibility for HPV until Aug 31st, 2023
- Students who received a letter from Public Health
AND must meet at least ONE of the criteria below:
- No OHIP card
- No Health Care Provider
- Health Care Provider does not provide vaccines
Vaccines and immunization services
- COVID-19 Vaccine
- Flu
- Hepatitis
- HPV
- Immunization Reporting
- Meningitis
- School Immunization Program
- Travel Immunizations
- Vaccine Fact Sheets
- Vaccine Schedule
- Vaccine Information and Resources - Immunize Canada Website
Publicly funded vaccinations available to this group | ||||||||
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Qualifying individuals (Infant - Grade 12, Pregnant individuals) |
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These clinics are by appointment only and are for qualifying Infants – Grade 12, as well as qualifying pregnant individuals. Book your vaccine appointment here. Note: If you require special assistance or language translation services for your appointment, please call 519-575-4400.
99 Regina Street South, Waterloo
30 Christopher Drive, Cambridge
Before booking your appointment, be sure that your vaccine record is up-to-date. Please submit any vaccine records to Public Health that have been given by your primary health care provider (if applicable), that have not already been reported to Public Health. Find out more information about this here. |
Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA)
Immunization protects children from many serious diseases that are easily spread in schools.
Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act all primary and secondary students need to have proof of immunization against:
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Polio
- Measles
- Mumps
- Rubella
- Meningococcal Disease
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Varicella (chickenpox)
- Required for children born in 2010 or later
View the complete immunization schedule.
Vaccine Exemptions for School Aged Children
Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), a child attending school (Kindegarten-Grade12) must either have proof of up-to-date immunization, or have a valid medical or non-medical exemption. A parent/guardian who wishes to submit an exemption must complete an appropriate exemption form and submit it to Public Health.
Children who do not get immunized are at an increased risk of getting some infections and spreading these diseases to others. If a vaccine preventable disease appears in your child’s school, your child may have to stay out of school/daycare, playgroups or sports until the disease is no longer present. You will be informed when it is safe for your child to return. Be prepared to keep your child home for several days, or up to several weeks depending on the disease.
Medical Exemption |
A medical exemption can be submitted if a child has a medical condition that prevents them from receiving a vaccine or there is evidence of immunity to the disease making further immunization unnecessary.
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Non-Medical Exemption |
As of September 1, 2017, the Ontario Ministry of Health has made it a requirement for all parents/guardians of students attending school to watch a vaccine education video online. You will receive a certificate of completion after watching the video. Both the certificate of completion and a notarized Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief form must be returned to Public Health before the exemption can be applied to your child’s record.
Please note: Photo ID with a signature is needed (e.g., driver’s license, picture health card). Some offices require an appointment and some may charge a fee.
Please contact Public Health at 519-575-4400 ext. 5001 if you have questions about this process or are unable to complete the education session online. |
Vaccine Exemptions for Children in Licensed Child Care Centres
According to the Child Care and Early Years Act, a child attending child care must either have proof of up-to-date immunization, or have a valid medical or non-medical exemption. A parent/guardian who wishes to submit an exemption must complete an appropriate exemption form and submit it to Public Health.
If a vaccine preventable disease appears in your child’s care centre, your child may have to stay out of daycare, playgroups or sports until the disease is no longer present. You will be informed when it is safe for your child to return. Be prepared to keep your child home for several days, or up to several weeks depending on the disease.
If you wish to continue to exempt your child from immunizations once they start elementary school, different forms under the Immunization of School Pupils Act will be required. Please see Vaccine exemptions for school aged children information above.
NOTE: For children attending both Child Care and School, only one exemption is required and The Immunization of School Pupils Act exemption applies. Please see Vaccine exemptions for school aged children section above.
NOTE: No education session is required for exemption of children in child care centres.
Medical Exemption |
If your child cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, you will need to:
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Non-Medical Exemption |
If you are choosing not to immunize your child for non-medical reasons, you will need to:
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Vaccine Fact Sheets
- Cocooning Protects Babies from Pertussis
- Diphtheria, Tetanus, Acellular Pertussis, Polio and Haemophilus Influenzae Type B Vaccine
- Diphtheria, Tetanus and Acellular Pertussis (Tdap) Vaccine
- Inactivated Polio Vaccine
- Influenza Vaccine
- Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) Vaccine
- Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella (MMRV) Vaccine
- Meningococcal C (Men C) Vaccine
- Pertussis (Whooping Cough) Vaccine
- Pneumococcal Conjugate (Pneu-C-13) Vaccine
- Pneumococcal Polysaccharide (Pneu-P-23) Vaccine
- Rotavirus Vaccine
- Shingles Vaccine
- Tetanus, Diphtheria, Acellular Pertussis and Polio (Tdap-IPV) Vaccine
- Varicella (Chickenpox) Vaccine
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