Close Alert Banner
Skip to Content

Southwestern Public Health Logo

Contact Us
A - Z TopicsNewsroomLocations and HoursContact Us1-800-922-0096
  • Classes, Clinics and Services
    • Dental Clinics
    • Food Handler Certification
    • Immunization Clinics
    • Influenza (Flu) Clinics
    • Needle Exchange Program
    • Pregnancy and Baby Supports
    • Sexual Health Clinics
    • TB Skin Testing
    • Tick Identification
    • Well Water Testing
    • Quit Smoking
  • My Health
    • Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco
    • Animal Bites and Rabies
    • Body Art and Personal Care
    • Child and Family Health
    • Dental Health
    • Immunization and Vaccines
    • Infectious Diseases
    • Food and Eating
    • Personal Safety and Injury Prevention
    • Mental Health
    • Physical Activity
    • Sexual Health
    • Vector-Borne Diseases
  • Community Health
    • Emergency Preparedness
    • Enforcement of Smoke-Free Spaces
    • Environmental Health
    • Food Safety
    • Health Inspect
    • Health Equity and Fairness
    • Personal Service Settings
    • Road Safety
    • Safe Needle Disposal
    • School Health
    • Walking, Biking, Hiking
  • Partners & Professionals
    • Child Care Centres
    • Congregate Living Settings
    • Educators
    • Food Service Operators
    • Health Care Providers
    • Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes
    • Outbreak Status Reports
    • Personal Service Settings
    • Recreational Facilities
    • Southwest IPAC Hub
  • Reports & Statistics
    • Community Health Status
    • Evaluations and Situational Assessments
    • Evidence Reviews
    • Health Inspect
    • General Reports
    • Position Statements
    • Surveillance Dashboards
  • About Us
    • Accessibility
    • Board of Health
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • Corporate Culture and Values
    • Events Calendar
    • Health Equity and Fairness
    • Locations and Hours
    • News and Media
    • Performance and Accountability
    Click to view About Us
    About Us

Immunization at Every Age

HomeMy HealthImmunization and VaccinesImmunization at Every Age
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Email this page Email

Vaccines are especially important for children. You can get your child immunized with your health care provider or at the health unit. Remember to report immunizations to us if your child is immunized by your health care provider.

Ontario’s routine immunization schedule

Check Ontario’s routine immunization schedule to learn about:

  • Which vaccines are given in Ontario
  • What ages to get them
  • The serious diseases vaccines prevent

Child Immunization FAQ

Why does my child need so many shots?

Immunizing children protects them from serious and often life-threatening illnesses. Children born before 1994 were protected from eight diseases and those born before 1985 were only protected from seven. Today in Ontario, we can make sure children are protected from 13 diseases by the time they are 15 months old.

Why does my child need several doses of the same shot?

Some vaccines need to be given several times to provide full protection. Sometimes a booster is needed as well. This strengthens immunity by reminding your child’s body how to protect itself.

How can I make immunization a better experience?

Immunizations can cause pain that may cause stress and anxiety. Immunize Canada provides tips on what you can do, what you can give, and how you can act to make immunization a better experience:

  • Pain management during immunization for children (under age 3)
  • Pain management during immunization for kids and adolescents
  • Pain management during immunization for adults

Why does public health review my child's immunization record?

Under the Child Care and Early Years Act and the Immunization of School Pupils Act, Medical Officers of Health must have an immunization record on file for children in licensed child care centres and schools. If a child or student is overdue for immunizations, a Public Health Nurse will send a notice to the parent/guardian.

Records also help us find out who is at risk if there is an outbreak. If there is an outbreak, children who do not have proof of immunization may temporarily not be allowed at child care or school.

 Why have I been notified that my child is not up to date with their immunizations?

 Children must be immunized or have an immunization exemption filed with us in order to go to school or licensed child care in Ontario. We will send you a notice if we have not received your child’s immunization record or if your child has not received the required vaccine(s). Health care providers do not automatically report your child’s vaccines to public health, so you may just need to report vaccines that were already given.
What vaccines are required to attend school in Ontario?

These vaccines are required to attend school:

  • Diphtheria
  • Measles
  • Meningococcal disease
  • Mumps
  • Pertussis (whooping cough)
  • Polio
  • Rubella
  • Tetanus
  • Varicella (chickenpox) for children born after 2009

 What vaccines are required to attend child care in Oxford, Elgin and St. Thomas?

 These immunizations are required to attend child care:

  • Diphtheria

  • Haemophilus influenzae type B

  • Measles

  • Meningococcal disease

  • Mumps

  • Pneumococcal disease

  • Polio

  • Rubella

  • Tetanus

  • Varicella/chickenpox (if they have not already had the disease)

 What do I do if I am notified that my child’s immunizations are not up-to-date?

Find your child’s immunization record. Your child may have already received the vaccines but they were not reported to the health unit. Once you have your child’s immunization record with the required vaccines, you can report it to us online, in person or by mail.

If your child has not had the required vaccines, please take the letter to your health care provider to get them. You will need to provide a record to us following your appointment. If you do not have a health care provider, we may be able to provide the vaccines. Please call us.

If you have chosen not to have your child vaccinated for medical, religious or personal reasons, ensure that you have provided the proper immunization exemption information to the Health Unit. 

 What if I don’t want to vaccinate my child?

Vaccines have been shown to be safe and they protect children from several serious diseases. If you do not want to vaccinate your child, learn what immunization exemption is required and make sure you give the proper information to us.

Adult immunizations

You never outgrow the need for immunization. Common vaccines for adults include:

  • Influenza (flu)
  • Pertussis
  • Pneumococcal
  • Tetanus
  • Shingles
You may need other vaccines depending on your health, what you do for a living, your travel plans, and where you live.
Subscribe to page updates
My Health
  • Immunization and Vaccines
    Toggle Section Immunization and Vaccines Menu
    • Immunization at Every Age
    • Immunization Exemptions
    • Immunization Records and Reporting
    • Immunizations in Schools
      Toggle Section Immunizations in Schools Menu
      • Grade 7 Immunization Program
    • Immunization Clinics
    • Influenza (Flu) Clinics
  • View Full My Health Menu
    Toggle Section
    • Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco
      Toggle Section Alcohol, Drugs and Tobacco Menu
      • Alcohol
      • Cannabis
      • Opioids, Naloxone and Needle Exchange
        Toggle Section Opioids, Naloxone and Needle Exchange Menu
        • Naloxone
        • Opioid Monitoring
        • Needle Exchange Program
      • Smoking and Vaping
        Toggle Section Smoking and Vaping Menu
        • Health Effects of Tobacco and Smoking
        • Quit Smoking
        • Vaping
    • Animal Bites and Rabies
      Toggle Section Animal Bites and Rabies Menu
      • Rabies
    • Body Art and Personal Care
    • Child and Family Health
      Toggle Section Child and Family Health Menu
      • Breastfeeding
      • Child Safety
      • Healthy Babies Healthy Children
      • Parenting
        Toggle Section Parenting Menu
        • Babies 0-12 months
        • Toddlers 1-3 years
        • Preschoolers 3-5 years
      • Postpartum Mood Disorders
      • Preconception and Pregnancy
      • Pregnancy and Baby Supports
    • Dental Health
      Toggle Section Dental Health Menu
      • Children and Youth 0-17
      • Seniors 65+
    • Infectious Diseases
      Toggle Section Infectious Diseases Menu
      • A-Z List of Infections
      • COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus)
        Toggle Section COVID-19 (Novel Coronavirus) Menu
        • COVID-19 Resources for Community Settings
        • COVID-19 Resources for Health Care Providers
          Toggle Section COVID-19 Resources for Health Care Providers Menu
          • COVID-19 Testing Guidelines
        • COVID-19 Resources for Schools and Child Care Centres
        • COVID-19 Resources for Workplaces and Employers
          Toggle Section COVID-19 Resources for Workplaces and Employers Menu
          • COVID-19 FAQ's for Workplaces and Employers
        • COVID-19 Vaccine
      • Influenza (Flu)
      • Preventing Infection
      • Tuberculosis
    • Food and Eating
      Toggle Section Food and Eating Menu
      • Food and Eating for Every Life Stage
      • Local Food Programs and Services
      • Reducing Weight Bias
    • Personal Safety and Injury Prevention
      Toggle Section Personal Safety and Injury Prevention Menu
      • Bike Safety
      • Child Safety
      • Concussions
      • Sun Safety
    • Mental Health
      Toggle Section Mental Health Menu
      • Mental Health and Addiction Support
    • Physical Activity
      Toggle Section Physical Activity Menu
      • Physical Activity in Schools
      • Physical Activity Guidelines
      • Physical Literacy
      • Walking, Biking, Hiking
    • Sexual Health
      Toggle Section Sexual Health Menu
      • Birth Control
      • Cervical Cancer Screening (Pap Test)
      • Pregnancy Testing and Options
      • Safer Sex
      • Sexual Assault and Violence
      • Sexual Health Clinics
      • Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
    • Vector-Borne Diseases
      Toggle Section Vector-Borne Diseases Menu
      • Ticks and Lyme Disease
      • West Nile Virus

Contact Us

Work with Us

Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) values our people! We pride ourselves on our positive and flexible work environment.

Learn More

Southwestern Public Health footer logo

Southwestern Public Health strives to ensure the comfort and safety of staff and visitors by encouraging a scent free environment.

  • Classes, Clinics and Services
  • My Health
  • Community Health
  • Partners & Professionals
  • Reports & Statistics
  • About Us

Links:

  • Privacy and Records Access
  • Accessibility
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Disclaimer and Terms of Use
  • Location and Hours
  • Sitemap
  • Website Feedback
Scroll to top of page

© 2020 Southwestern Public Health

Designed by eSolutionsGroup
Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.