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Children and youth vaccinations
Whether your child is starting school, entering Grade 7, or needs to catch up on missed vaccines, staying up to date with immunizations helps protect them from serious diseases. This information covers required and recommended vaccines, how the annual record review works, and what to do if your child receives a notice from Public Health.
Vaccines required for school attendance
In Ontario, Public Health must have an up-to-date immunization record or valid exemption on file for every student under 18 years of age attending school. This is part of the Immunization of School Pupils Act.
Parents and legal guardians are responsible for reporting their choice (vaccinations or an exemption) to Public Health.
Unless a valid exemption is on file with Public Health, all students under 18 attending primary or secondary school in Ontario must be immunized against the following diseases under the Immunization of School Pupils Act:
- Diphtheria
- Measles
- Meningococcal
- Mumps
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Polio
- Rubella (German measles)
- Tetanus (lockjaw)
- Varicella (chickenpox) — required for children born in 2010 or later
Learn where to get vaccinated in Niagara. Vaccinations received from a doctor or walk-in clinic will need to be reported to Public Health so we can update their record.
Timing matters. The routine schedule for vaccinations is designed to protect your child when they are most at risk. A delay or gap leaves your child at higher risk of infection. For example, the adolescent Tdap booster is indicated between 14 to 16 years of age — so if your child gets their four to six year booster at four years of age, they become due for their adolescent booster 10 years later at 14 years of age.
Making the decision with your child
Parents and guardians are encouraged to discuss vaccination with their child. Look for trustworthy information to help you make informed decisions.
Resources for parents and caregivers
Under Ontario's Health Care Consent Act, vaccination is considered a treatment and requires consent. A person is capable of giving consent to vaccination if they understand the information needed to make a decision and understand the consequences of that decision.
Contact Vaccinations and Immunizations for more information.
Learn how consent is obtained for Grade 7 vaccinations.
For students 16 and older, consent forms and immunization letters are sent directly to the student, not a parent or guardian. Students 16 and older must also request their own immunization records due to privacy laws.
Kindergarten registrants and students new to Ontario
Schools do not collect or submit student immunization records to Public Health. Parents and legal guardians of junior and senior kindergarten registrants, and students new to Ontario, are asked to report their child's vaccinations directly to Public Health.
Learn how to report vaccinations using Immunization Connect (ICON) or other methods.
Grade 7 vaccinations
Free Hepatitis B, meningococcal and HPV vaccines are offered to all Grade 7 students through school-based clinics. The meningococcal vaccine is required by law for school attendance. For full details and the consent form, visit Grade 7 vaccinations.
Annual student immunization record review
Public Health reviews student immunization records each year to protect students and schools from diseases that can spread easily. Many students are already vaccinated, but their records have not been reported to Public Health. Watch our video to learn about annual student immunization record review.
Key dates for the 2026–2027 school year
Fall 2026
Public Health begins the official immunization record review for the 2026–2027 school year. Families with missing or incomplete records may receive notices from Public Health.
October 2026
Families of students four to six years old with missing records receive a notice from Public Health.
November 2026
Families of students seven to 17 years old with missing records receive a notice from Public Health.
January 2027
Families who have not updated their records receive an order for suspension for students seven to 17 years of age. Families still have time to update records before the suspension period begins.
February 2027
Families of students four to six years old who have not updated their records receive a second reminder letter from Public Health.
January to March 2027
Missing records should be submitted to Public Health by March 8. Processing may take up to five business days. Delayed submissions may not be processed before the suspension period begins. Secondary students who receive a suspension order may attend an in-school vaccination clinic at participating schools.
March 9–22, 2027
If the March 8 deadline was missed, continue to submit missing records to Public Health. Processing may be delayed. Contact Public Health if you need support.
March 15–19, 2027
Public Health offers March Break clinics to students seven to 17 years of age who have received a suspension order.
March 23 – April 21, 2027
Suspension period begins for students seven to 17 years of age. Students with incomplete records may be suspended from school for up to 20 school days or until Public Health confirms their record is complete. Suspended students can return after confirmation from Public Health by phone or written notice.
If you received a letter from Public Health
If you received a notice, it means the student listed does not have a complete immunization record on file with Public Health, or Public Health has no record at all.
The notice is sent to parents or guardians if the student is under 16, and directly to the student if they are 16 or older.
Common reasons for receiving a notice:
- The student received vaccines but Public Health does not have the records
- Some vaccines may still be needed
- A valid exemption form is not on file
Check the notice — it will show which vaccines are missing from Public Health records. Bring the notice to your health care provider, who can help confirm whether your child needs vaccines or whether the record just needs to be updated.
If the student record is blank, Public Health has no vaccination information at all for the student and a record needs to be submitted. If you don't have access to your child's previous immunization record, call Public Health at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7425 to speak with a vaccine nurse.
Why immunization records are important
- They are required by law in Ontario
- They protect the student and others in the school community
- They help Public Health act quickly during an outbreak
- They help stop the spread of diseases in the community
All personal information or personal health information submitted is collected under the Health Protection and Promotion Act, R.S.O. 1990 c.H.7, s.5 and the Immunization of School Pupils Act, R.S.O. 1990, s. 11(1) and its regulations.
This information is collected for the purpose of assessing, keeping records and reporting on the immunization status and exemptions of children going to schools in Ontario. It is maintained electronically in a provincial immunization information system provided by the Ontario Ministry of Health.