Welcome to our new website

We’ve redesigned niagararegion.ca to make it easier to find what you need. We’re still putting on the finishing touches, so over the next few weeks you may notice:

  • Search is still learning. Some results may be incomplete or out of date. Try browsing by topic from the main menu.
  • Some links may not work. Old bookmarks and links may lead to pages that have moved.
  • Pages are still being updated. We’re reviewing content across the site and improving it as we go.

Baby and toddler vaccinations

Vaccines for babies and toddlers start at two months of age and follow a routine schedule designed to protect your child when they are most at risk. Family members and close contacts can also help protect newborns by staying up to date on their own vaccinations.

Health care providers do not report vaccines to Public Health for you. Reporting your child’s vaccines helps you:

  • Stay on track with your child’s vaccines and know which vaccines are due next
  • Keep their immunization record in one place
  • Maintain up-to-date records for Ontario licensed child care and school requirements

Why vaccinating your child matters

Childhood vaccines have been around for decades and protect children from serious diseases that can have severe and sometimes permanent complications, such as paralysis from polio, deafness from mumps and more.

Child stacking blocks

Protect your child's future

Vaccine-preventable diseases can make even a previously healthy child very sick. Vaccines protect their long-term health and well-being.

An adult holding a child's hand

Protect others

Some people in our community — too young or with medical conditions — cannot get vaccinated. They are counting on the rest of us to protect them.

Routine vaccination schedule

Seasonal immunizations

Your child's vaccines follow a routine schedule starting at two months of age. The schedule is designed to protect your child when they are most at risk for those diseases — a delay or gap leaves your child at high risk of infection. The schedule gives optimal age ranges for each vaccine.

Eligible babies may be protected through a one-time antibody product before leaving the hospital or through their health care provider. RSV vaccination during pregnancy may also be an option. Talk to your prenatal care provider for more information.

Learn about the RSV prevention program.

The flu shot is available for babies six months of age and older, every fall.

Learn about the flu shot.

For babies six months of age and older, every fall. Specific high-risk populations may be eligible for a spring dose as well.

Learn about the COVID-19 vaccine.

At two months and beyond

At two months, your child can start following the routine schedule for vaccinations.

Children in child care

Under Ontario’s Child Care and Early Years Act, if your child attends licensed child care, an up-to-date immunization record or a valid exemption must be on file with Public Health and the child care.

By vaccinating your child, you're protecting them from the following diseases under the Child Care and Early Years Act:

During the enrolment process, you will need to provide your licensed child care operator with one of the following:

  • Up-to-date immunization record
  • Original completed Statement of Medical Exemption
  • Original completed Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief Affidavit
    • Choose "Parent of a Child" under "Choose Your Status." Do not select "Individual," as this will generate a form that cannot be used as a valid exemption for your child.

Your licensed child care operator will send a copy to Public Health to be applied to your child's immunization record.

After enrolment

Continue to report each vaccine your child receives to both your child care operator and Public Health.

Each spring, Public Health reviews immunization records for all families with children in licensed child care. This routine process helps prevent the spread of vaccine-preventable diseases in child care settings.

If you receive a notice:

  1. Check your child's immunization record in ICON
  2. Update any missing vaccinations with your health care provider if needed
  3. Report any missing vaccinations to Public Health
  4. Provide updated information to your child care provider