Waterloo Region – Elementary school suspensions will take effect on Thursday, May 7, 2026, for those who received a suspension order from Public Health. This applies to elementary school students who do not have up-to-date vaccination records or a valid exemption on file by Monday, May 4, 2026, at 4:30 p.m. 

Letters requesting vaccination records were mailed to 9,234 elementary school students with incomplete records between January and February 2026. Suspension orders were mailed to 7,065 elementary school students whose records remained out of date in March 2026. These numbers are consistent with historical Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) trends in Waterloo Region. 

"We strongly encourage parents to update their child’s vaccine record as soon as possible,” said Dr. Hsiu‑Li Wang, Medical Officer of Health, Region of Waterloo. “Due to the high number of expected suspensions, waiting until suspension day to update records could mean missing extra days of school before they can return.”

What you need to do if your child received a suspension notice:  

• Report vaccines that your child has received at regionofwaterloo.ca/vaccines.  
• If your child needs a vaccine, book an appointment with your health care provider or call ahead for availability at a walk-in clinic. Report the vaccine to Public Health after your child receives it. Your health care provider does not do this for you. 
• If you do not have a health care provider, you can book a vaccine appointment with Public Health at regionofwaterloo.ca/vaccines.  

No further action is required if:  

• You received confirmation from Public Health that your child will not be suspended.  
• You have already reported vaccine records but have not yet received confirmation. Public Health is continuing to process a high volume of record submissions, and you will receive a confirmation email as soon as your child’s vaccination records have been processed. Please do not call or resubmit your records. 

Background  

Routine vaccinations provide protection against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, meningitis, pertussis (whooping cough), and varicella (chickenpox). The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires all elementary and secondary school students to have proof of these vaccinations or a valid exemption on file with Public Health. 

Questions? Need help?  

• Visit Region of Waterloo Public Health to learn more about school and childcare vaccinations  
• Call Region of Waterloo Public Health at 519-575-4400. Interpreters are available in over 150 languages.  

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