School and Child Care Vaccine Information

Vaccination protects children from many serious diseases that are easily spread in schools and child care settings. Each vaccine is given at a specific age, and some require multiple doses. View the complete vaccine schedule for more information.

Required vaccines

Elementary and secondary school vaccine requirements

The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires all elementary and secondary school students 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

Public Health also recommends the following vaccines, that can be received during Grade 7 school clinics:

Hepatitis B
HPV

View the complete vaccine schedule for more information.

Licensed child care vaccine requirements

The Child Care and Early Years Act requires children attending child care to have proof of immunization against:

Diphtheria
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Tetanus
Polio
Measles
Mumps
Rubella
Pneumococcal disease
Meningococcal disease
Varicella (chickenpox)
Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib or Hib meningitis)

Rotavirus vaccine is also recommended by Public Health for children in child care centres, but it is not required.

View the complete vaccine schedule for more information.

Vaccination 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.

Parents/guardians must report their child's vaccine records or valid exemptions to Public Health before their child starts school. See the Kindergarten healthy start checklist for details.

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 vaccination records

Vaccine exemptions

Children who are not vaccinated are at increased risk of getting infections and spreading diseases to others. If your child has a vaccine exemption, and 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.

Kindergarten to Grade 12 students

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.

Print the Statement of Medical Exemption form, Immunization School Pupils Act
Have your child’s health care provider complete the form (you may be charged a fee)
Submit the completed exemption form online to Public Health
Keep a copy for your own records

Non-medical exemption

The Ontario Ministry of Health requires all parents/guardians of students wishing to obtain a non-medical exemption to watch a vaccine education video online and complete a Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief form.

Complete the mandatory Immunization Education Session.
Once the education session is complete you will receive communication from Public Health with a Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief form that will need to be completed and taken to a Commissioner for taking affidavits to have it notarized.
- 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.
- Once this form is complete and notarized you will be able to submit it online with a webform link provided by Public Health.

When a student has a non-medical exemption placed on their record, it stays valid until they turn 18. You do not need to submit a new exemption every school year and you can request to have it removed at any time.

If you have questions about any step in this process, contact Public Health at 519-575-4400.

Important note: If you completed a non‑medical exemption for your preschool‑aged child using the Ministry of Education, Child Care and Early Years Act exemption form, that exemption will expire when your child enrolls in school. You will need to submit a new Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care exemption form under the Immunization of School Pupils Act.

Licensed child care centres

The Child Care and Early Years Act requires children, staff and volunteers at a child care centre to have proof of vaccination or a valid medical or non-medical exemption. A parent/guardian who wishes to submit an exemption must complete the appropriate exemption form and submit it to Public Health.

Medical exemption

Complete the Statement of Medical Exemption form
This must be signed by a health care provider and include their license or registration number
Submit the completed exemption form online to Public Health
Keep a copy for your own records

Non-medical exemption

Complete the Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief, Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014. This form must be notarized.
Once the form is complete and notarized, submit your vaccine exemption to Public Health
Keep a copy for your own records.

Please contact Public Health at 519-575-4400 ext. 5001 if you have questions about this process.

Note: The Ministry of Education, Child Care and Early Years Act exemption form will expire once a child enrolls in school and a new Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care exemption form under the Immunization of School Pupils Act will be required.

Grade 7 school clinics

Public Health provides the hepatitis B, human papillomavirus (HPV) and meningococcal vaccines at no cost to Grade 7 students through the school-based vaccination program.

Learn more about Grade 7 school vaccine clinics