Immunizations in Schools

Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, children must be immunized in order to go to school in Ontario. If students are not immunized for personal or medical reasons, a legal immunization exemption is required.

Immunizations help protect students from serious diseases that can spread in schools and communities. Vaccines are a safe and effective way to prevent many illnesses and reduce the risk of outbreaks. Keeping children up to date with their immunizations helps protect their health and the health of those around them.

School immunization requirements in Ontario

Under Ontario's Immunization of School Pupils Act, students must be vaccinated against certain diseases or have a valid exemption on file to attend school. Required vaccines may include protection against:

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

Keeping your child's immunization record up to date

Many parents are surprised to learn that health care providers do not automatically send vaccination records to Southwestern Public Health. It is important to ensure your child's immunization record is reported and kept up to date. Accurate records help prevent unnecessary notices, school suspensions, and delays during outbreak investigations.

What happens during an outbreak?

If there is an outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease, students who are not protected may be required to stay home from school until the outbreak is over or until they receive the required immunization. This helps reduce the spread of illness and protect students, staff, and families.

School immunization programs and support

Southwestern Public Health offers school-based immunization programs, including the Grade 7 Immunization Program.

These programs help students receive recommended vaccines and stay protected against vaccine-preventable diseases. Families can also access information about immunization clinics, exemptions, vaccine records, and routine childhood immunizations through Southwestern Public Health.