Waterloo Region – Secondary school suspensions will take effect on May 8, 2025, for those who have received a suspension order from Public Health and have not updated their vaccination records. Suspension orders and information on how to take corrective measures were mailed to affected secondary school students in mid-March.  

If Public Health has not received up-to-date vaccination records, notification of an upcoming vaccination appointment, or a valid exemption by Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at 4:30 p.m., students will be suspended from attending school starting Thursday, May 8, 2025.  

“Vaccination is your child’s best protection against serious illness,” said Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, Medical Officer of Health, Region of Waterloo. “We are seeing cases of measles locally as well as active outbreaks of measles throughout the province. It is important to ensure your child’s vaccines are up to date.”  

To avoid suspension: 

• Report vaccines that secondary students have received at regionofwaterloo.ca/vaccines. 
• If a vaccine is needed, book an appointment with your health care provider or at a Public Health Clinic.  
  • If your vaccine appointment is with your health care provider, remember to report the vaccine to Public Health after you receive it. 
  • You do not need an OHIP card to book a Public Health vaccine appointment. 
  • Public Health vaccine appointments are available for secondary students at 150 Main Street in Cambridge, 20 Weber Street in Kitchener and 99 Regina Street South in Waterloo.  
• If you have a vaccination appointment booked with your health care provider after May 7, 2025, notify Public Health of the appointment through our online form available at regionofwaterloo.ca/vaccines. A temporary exemption will be placed on record to prevent suspension. 

No further action is required if: 

• You received confirmation from Public Health that you 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 record has been processed. Please do not call or resubmit your records. 

If you are suspended starting Thursday, May 8, 2025 (suspension day): 

• Book a vaccine appointment with your health care provider or at a Public Health Clinic. Public Health appointments must be booked online. No walk-ins will be accepted. 
• If you have any questions, you may call 519-575-4400 to help you book an appointment or explain your options.  
  • Call volume is expected to be high, and you may have to wait. 

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 requires all elementary and secondary school students to have proof of these vaccinations or a valid exemption on file with Public Health. 

In January 2025, Public Health sent 7,077 notices to secondary students who had outdated vaccination records. In mid-March 2025, Public Health issued 5,032 suspension orders to secondary school students. As of April 24, 2025, approximately 2,380 students were still not up to date. 

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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