School and Child Care Vaccinations
As a result of school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic, many students missed out on important vaccines. If you wish to have the vaccines administered at your family doctor’s office, the vaccines are available for your doctor to order from Public Health.
If you do not have a family doctor, students can also book an appointment at a Public Health Routine Vaccination Clinic. For more information, including eligibility or to book an appointment, visit Routine Vaccination Clinics.
On this page:
- Required and recommended vaccines
- Grade 7 school clinics
- Vaccine records and reporting
- Vaccine exemptions
- Frequently asked questions
Required and recommended vaccines
Vaccination protects children from many serious diseases that are easily spread in schools and child care. Each vaccine is given at a specific age, and some require multiple doses.
Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) 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
- Hepatitis B
- HPV
- Meningococcal (required by ISPA)
View the complete vaccine schedule for more information.
Grade 7 school clinics
Public Health provides the Hepatitis B, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Meningococcal vaccines at no cost to Grade 7 students annually through the school-based vaccination program. If your child is in Grade 7 this school year, they are eligible to receive these vaccines or complete their vaccines series if it has already begun.
Students will receive paper consent forms on or close to the first day of school. Parents must sign and return these forms to provide vaccination consent. If you do not have a paper consent form, you can request another form through your child's school.
2023-2024 School Vaccination Schedule
If your child did not receive vaccines in Grade 7 and is currently in Grade 8-12, they may receive them with their health care provider or at a Public Health Routine Vaccination clinic.
Book your catch-up vaccine appointment hereVaccination records and reporting
The Immunization of School Pupils Act requires Public Health to maintain vaccination records for all private, public and Catholic school students in Waterloo Region. Every time your child gets a vaccine from their health care provider, you need to notify Public Health. Your health care provider does not report these records for you.
Report, view or request immunization records
Vaccine exemptions
School aged children
Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), a child attending school (Kindergarten-Grade 12) must either have proof of vaccination, 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.
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 wishing to obtain a non-medical exemption 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. |
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 vaccination, 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 or daycare, 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.
Ministry of Education exemption forms |
The Child Care and Early Years Act requires children attending licensed child care seeking exemptions from vaccination for religious or conscientious reasons, or for medical reasons, must submit one of the Ministry of Education exemption forms found below:
Child care centres should submit exemption forms to Public Health along with a completed Immunization Information Form for Licensed Child Care Settings (PDF, 2 pages, 160 KB) form at the time of enrolment. A copy of both forms is to be kept on file at the child care centre for review by a Ministry of Education licensing officer. Please note that the Ministry of Education, Child Care and Early Years Act 2014 exemption form will expire once a child enrols in school and a new Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care exemption form under the Immunization of School Pupils Act will be required. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who gives the vaccines in school clinics? | ||||||||||
Our Public Health Nurses receive specific vaccination training. All our nursing staff are licensed with the College of Nurses of Ontario. They administer thousands of vaccines annually and have great knowledge and experience at putting anxious children at ease. | ||||||||||
How will the school clinics run? | ||||||||||
Students will be called down by class to the school clinic to receive their vaccines. Students will be supervised for at least 15 minutes post-vaccine. Severe reactions are rare and most occur within 15 minutes of getting the vaccine. The nurses will stay at the school for at least 15 minutes after the last vaccine is given. |
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What will happen if my child has a reaction after the nurses have left? |
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Most reactions occur within the first 15 minutes after receiving the vaccine. Public Health Nurses are always available at the school for at least 15 minutes after the last vaccine is given. Before leaving, the nurse provides the school with first aid instructions should a reaction occur. This may include referring the student to their family physician or emergency Report any reactions that occur after nurses have left, to Public Health at 519-575-4400 ext. 5003 |
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Who can I contact if I have questions or if I did not get a consent form? | ||||||||||
Consent forms can be obtained by calling our Vaccine Information Line at 519-575-4400 ext. 5003. | ||||||||||
My grade 7 child missed a school clinic. Where can he/she get the vaccines and when? | ||||||||||
At your child's next school vaccination clinic (if available). Public Health has school clinics twice a year, in the fall and then again in the spring.
At a Public Health clinic. Your child can come to a Public Health clinic all year, including the summer.
Book an appointment online here. Or call 519-575-4400 ext. 5003 to make an appointment by phone. At your doctor's office School program vaccines are also available through local health care providers. Parents/students can access immunization records and submit immunization information via Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON). Students without a health card or those needing assistance can call Public Health at 519-575-4400 ext. 5001. |
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I have questions about Hepatitis B vaccine | ||||||||||
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I have questions about Meningococcal C-ACWY135 | ||||||||||
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I have questions about the HPV vaccine |
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Through the School Immunization Program, all students attending Grade 7 in Ontario are eligible to receive publicly-funded doses of HPV9 until the end of Grade 12 for female clients and until the end of Grade 10 for male students.
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If my child needs to complete their Grade 7 vaccines in Grade 8, do I need to sign a new consent form? |
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If you signed a consent, or called in a verbal consent to Public Health in Grade 7, you will not need to sign a new consent form. That consent, whether written or verbal, is good for 12 months or until the series is complete. |
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My child has an exemption on file for a vaccination, how can I be sure that he/she won't receive the vaccine at a school clinic? |
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Exemptions are in place according to the Immunization of School Pupil’s Act, which is not part of the Grade 7 school program. To be sure that your son or daughter is not immunized, check off “No” on the consent and return with your signature. It is a good idea to speak with your child ahead of time to let them know that they should not be receiving a vaccine at the school clinic. |
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My child is on special medications for an underlying health condition. Is it safe for him/her to receive the school immunization program vaccines? |
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Very few underlying health conditions would prevent a child from receiving vaccines. Consult with your doctor and/or contact Public Health at 519-575-4400 ext. 5003 to speak with a nurse about your child's specific situation. The nurse can answer your questions and provide you with information about what options are available for your child to receive the publicly funded vaccinations. | ||||||||||
My child has a serious needle phobia. What are my options to ensure that publicly funded vaccines are received? |
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Needle anxiety is common in teens. Our nurses in the school clinics have dealt with many anxious children and have developed several techniques to make the process as anxiety-free as possible, for example:
Tips for you:
If your child knows ahead of time that they are prone to fainting, please have them notify the nurse prior to getting their needle. |
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Do I need to report all immunizations my child receives to Public Health? |
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Only immunizations required under the Immunization of School Pupils Act must be reported to Public Health, including:
Any immunization your child receives from Public Health (e.g. though a school or Region of Waterloo Public Health clinic) will be automatically reported. |
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