Due to the current COVID-19 vaccine roll out and expansion of COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to students aged 12-17, the Grade 7 school immunization program for the 2020/2021 cohort and the catch-up school immunization program for the 2019/2020 cohort will be delayed until fall 2021. Details about resumption of the school immunization program will be provided in September.
Provincial planning is underway to address school immunization program catch-up. Vaccine eligibility for Hepatitis B and HPV vaccines has been extended to August 31, 2022 to include all eligible cohorts in 2020 and 2021.
School program vaccines are also available through local health care providers. Parents/students can access immunization records and submit immunization information via ICON. Students without a health card or those needing assistance can call Public Health at 519-575-4400 ext.5001.
Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA)
Public Health will be postponing the enforcement of the Immunization of School Pupils’ Act for this school year and will not implement suspension actions this spring.
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.
Report to Public Health
The Act requires that Public Health maintain the immunization records of all primary and secondary students in Waterloo Region. Without proof of immunizations or a valid exemption your child may be suspended from school until records are provided.
Parents are required to report these immunizations to Public Health to ensure school attendance for their child. Your school does not collect immunization information.
You can report immunization records to Public Health
- Phone: 519-575-4400 ext. 5001 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday)
- Online: Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON)
- In Person: 99 Regina Street South, Waterloo or 150 Main Street, Cambridge
Received a letter?
If you received an immunization notice for your child it is because Public Health does not have complete information on file. It could be because:
- You have not reported your child's immunizations to Public Health
- Contact Public Health to update your child's records
- Your child is overdue for one or more immunizations
- Book an appointment with your health care provider, bring the immunization notice to ensure the correct immunizations are given
- If you do not have a health care provider or health card, call Public Health at 519-575-4400.
- You have chosen not to have your child immunized for medical, religious or philosophical reasons but have not provided us with a legal exemption form
Please note: Public Health will be postponing the enforcement of the Immunization of School Pupils’ Act for this school year and will not implement suspension actions this spring.
Vaccine Exemption
Public Health does not issue COVID-19 vaccine exemptions. At this time, the Ministry of Health has not provided guidance for vaccine exemptions for COVID vaccines, and there is no formal exemption process. Please contact your family physician or allergist if you require written documentation.
Region of Waterloo Public Health is not providing education sessions/videos for COVID-19 vaccine exemptions. Please speak with your employer, local school board or organization about their vaccine policy requirements.
You may decide for medical, religious or philosophical reason not to immunize your child. You will need to provide a valid written exemption to Public Health.
If the diseases appears in your child's school you child may have to stay out of school/child care until the disease is no longer present.
For medical exemptions, a legal Statement of Medical Exemption (ISPA) must be forwarded to Public Health.
The Immunization of School Pupils Acts was recently amended to change the process for non-medical exemptions (statements of conscience).
All parents seeking a Statement of Conscience are encouraged to call the Vaccine Preventable Diseases information line at 519-575-4400 ext. 5003 to speak with a Public Health Nurse about this new process. A nurse is available Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
School Immunizations
Public Health offers clinics each year in schools for all students in Grade 7 to receive their Hepatitis B, HPV and Meningococcal vaccines.
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