Frequently Asked Questions about Immunizations

I received a letter from Ottawa Public Health

What is Immunization Surveillance?

Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act and the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014, children attending a school or licensed daycare in Ontario are required to be vaccinated against certain diseases or have a valid exemption on file.

Parents of children attending school or daycare in Ottawa are required to report their child’s immunization to Ottawa Public Health. The information is maintained in a confidential provincial database called Panorama.

Every year, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is mandated to review the immunization records of children attending school or daycare in Ottawa to ensure that the information is up to date. This is crucial to protect the health of children during a vaccine preventable disease outbreak, such as measles.

Why is it important?

Immunization is a simple and effective way to protect your child against vaccine preventable diseases. By maintaining an up-to-date record, OPH can quickly determine which children are protected and which are at risk in the event of an outbreak.

OPH can then take the necessary steps to protect everyone from vaccine preventable disease. Sometimes this means that children who are not adequately immunized must be excluded from school or childcare until the outbreak is over.

What is the Immunization Surveillance Process?

OPH is required to maintain and review the immunization records of students under 18 years of age attending school in Ottawa, in accordance with the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA)

The ‘First notice’ letter is to inform parents/guardians that OPH records indicate student’s immunization record has missing or incorrect vaccine information in Panorama/on file.

This year, OPH is reviewing immunization record of students born in 2017 and 2007. If you receive the Notice of Incomplete Immunization Record, please compare our record with your records at home.

The Notice form will indicate an "Update by Date" for immunization updates.

Please contact OPH on or before the "Update by Date" to update the child’s immunization record, if student has received vaccine(s) listed as missing with their healthcare provider or a walk-in clinic. If you do not respond by the “Update by Date” on the first notice, OPH will issue a second notice called the “Suspension Order”. Families have another month to respond to this order before a school suspension will occur.

Why did I receive a letter from OPH?

You received this letter for one or more of the following reasons:

OPH does not have an immunization record on file for your child.
Your child is missing one or more required vaccines to meet Ontario’s immunization requirements for school attendance.
Your child might be up to date with all of their required immunizations; however, you did not provide OPH with their most recent vaccine information.
Your child may have received invalid doses that do not meet the immunization requirements under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA).
OPH has not received a Ministry approved standardized medical or non-medical exemption form for your child to be exempted from receiving immunizations.

I received a letter from OPH. What should I do next?

Step 1:

Compare the immunization record OPH has on file for your child (shown in your Notice), with your immunization records at home and with your child’s health care provider.

Note: Only vaccines required for attending a school are shown in your Notice.

Step 2:

If your child received the vaccine(s) listed as missing in your letter, update your child’s immunization record with OPH.

If your child is missing the vaccine(s) listed. Please have your child receive the vaccine(s) through their health care provider, a walk-in clinic or through the OPH immunization clinic. Update OPH once your child receives the vaccine(s).

If you are having difficulty accessing publicly funded vaccines in the community and/or need a nurse to assess your child’s immunization record from another country, contact OPH at 613-580-6744, Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm.

Why did I receive a Suspension Order from OPH?

You received a Suspension Order for one of the following reasons:

OPH did not receive the missing information. There is still time to update OPH and avoid suspension if information is received before the suspension start date provided on the Suspension Order. If suspension has started, contact OPH at 613-580-6744 to review what is required to cancel the suspension.

OPH received your update after the “Update By Date” provided on the Notice of Incomplete Immunization letter. A Suspension Order is automatically generated if an update is not received by the deadline.

Immunization updates received online or by fax may take 5-10 business days to be processed. Once information has been processed, you will receive an email or automated voice message confirming if your child’s record is up to date or not. If you received confirmation that your child’s record is up to date, please disregard the Suspension Order you received. If you have not received confirmation, contact OPH at 613-580-6744 to review what is required to cancel the suspension.

Where can I have my child immunized?

Immunizations can be given at your family doctor or a walk-in clinic. Call ahead of your visit to make sure that the vaccine is available.

If you are currently looking for a family doctor please register with Health Care Connect, and a nurse will help you find a doctor or nurse practitioner who is accepting new patients in our community. 

Families facing barriers can book an appointment with OPH or one of our community partners through the Kids Come First booking page. Please note, this booking page includes all clinics offering routine vaccines through the Kids Come First- Vaccinate and Up-to-Date campaign and not just those operated by Ottawa Public Health.

You can book an appointment for your child or youth who:

Lives and/or goes to daycare or school in Ontario; and
Is due for recommended vaccinations;
Does not have a family physician or pediatrician or a Primary Health Care nurse practitioner (PHC-NP) or cannot easily access/see their family physician, pediatrician, or PHC-NP.

Note that an Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) card is not required to book an appointment.

Families facing barriers can also drop-in to one of OPH’s Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs offering routine vaccines.

What if I can only get in to see my primary care provider after the deadline on the notice?

If your child has a healthcare provider but cannot get an appointment before the notice deadline, you do not need to cancel the appointment. Instead, you can contact OPH at 613-580-6744 and notify us of the appointment details to have the suspension removed. We will require the healthcare provider's name and contact information, along with the date and time of the appointment. You will need follow-up and update the record as soon as the missing vaccine(s) are received to avoid future suspension.

My child does not have an Ontario Health Card (OHIP). How can I get my child immunized?

Children who are new to Canada or who do not have an Ontario Health Card can visit one of OPH’s Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs offering routine vaccines.

They can also book an appointment with OPH or one of our community partners through the Kids Come First booking page. Please note, this booking page includes all clinics offering routine vaccines through the Kids Come First- Vaccinate and Up-to-Date campaign and not just those operated by Ottawa Public Health.

Families are encouraged to bring all immunization records for their child. A Public Health Nurse will be available to assess the immunization record and give a vaccine if your child is still missing a dose.

Immunizations and health services can also be obtained through your local Community Health Centre and other community clinics.

International students can receive immunizations through their international medical insurance with their local health care provider or community clinic. Call Ottawa Public Health if you need assistance.

I do not have a copy of my child's immunization record.

If your child had immunizations in the past, contact your current or past health care providers and request a copy of immunization record. 

If you have moved from another city, you may be able to contact your previous health unit to obtain the records that they have on file. 

If your family doctor has retired, you can contact Quebec Vaccination Registry (if your child received vaccines in Quebec) or record storage companies (e.g. RSRS, Accuro EMR) to obtain a copy of your records. A fee might be associated with the retrieval. We do not intend to endorse these companies and they are not affiliated with Ottawa Public Health.

If you do not have any records of your child's immunizations, it is recommended that your child complete a catch-up schedule.  Re-immunization is not harmful and highly recommended. This will ensure that your child is adequately protected against vaccine preventable diseases.

For more information on the recommended schedule and catch-up schedules, please visit the  Ontario’s Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule to find out which vaccine your child needs next.

Why didn't my child's healthcare provider or school submit my child's record to OPH?

Parent(s)/Legal Guardian(s) are responsible for updating Ottawa Public Health every time their child receives an immunization.

Your child's healthcare provider and school are not mandated to report your child's immunization to Ottawa Public Health. Find out more about Reporting Immunization.

In some cases, your healthcare provider may tell you that your child's immunization is up-to date. However, the information may not have been reported to OPH. We recommend that you obtain a copy of the record and submit it to OPH.

Why is OPH asking for a vaccine that my child has already received?

Some immunizations that your child receives require multiple doses given at specific ages and intervals in order to develop adequate immunity. For this reason, we may ask you for dates of immunizations administered several years ago.

What if I do not want my child to receive vaccines for medical or philosophical reason?

Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) and Child Care and Early Years Act, children who cannot be immunized for medical or philosophical reasons should complete and submit an exemption form to Ottawa Public Health to be compliant with the law. Please refer to Immunization Requirements for School and Immunization Requirements for Child Care Centres for more information.

Which immunizations are mandatory for Child Care Centres and schools?

Immunization Requirement for Children Attending Child Care Centres

Immunization Requirement for Children Attending Schools

Is it okay if my child receives multiple immunizations at the same time?

Yes. Multiple immunizations can be received at the same time. Your child's immune system can safely and effectively handle more than one immunization at a time. Most common side effects are mild (such as low grade fever and tenderness on the injection site) and will last for only a day or two.

Everyday your child's immune system is exposed to numerous pathogens from their own environment. These exposures help your child's immune system develop protection.

However, exposure to certain pathogens could cause serious, potentially life threatening infections.

Immunizations allow your child's immune system to develop protection against these specific diseases without having to go through a natural infection that could make your child very sick.

Why does my child need another MMR? My child has received it.

Children require two doses of Measles and Mumps vaccine and one dose of Rubella vaccine after their first birthday (normally given at 12 months and 4 years of age). Your child may have received a letter for the MMR vaccine due to any of the following reasons:

Your child might have received the first dose before 1 year of age.
Once your child is 7 years old, the second dose of MMR is required for school attendance. It is possible that Ottawa Public Health (OPH) only has one dose on record if a record update was not shared to OPH.
The MMR vaccine is invalid because it was given too soon after another live vaccine.

Receiving the MMR vaccine too early or too soon after another live vaccine causes the dose to be invalid because it may not provide your child with adequate protection against the diseases. Confirm the date with your healthcare provider and update Ottawa Public Health. Knowing the brand name of the vaccine will also be helpful so we can accurately record it in your child's file.

Why does my child need Varicella vaccine? My child has received it.

Children born in 2010 or later are required to have two doses of Varicella vaccine after their first birthday (normally given at 15 months and 4 years of age). As recommended by the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, two doses of Varicella vaccine can reduce varicella disease incidence, increase herd immunity, potentially decrease disease outbreaks, as well as minimize the number of cases occurring in adolescents and adults.

Your child may have received a letter for varicella due to any of the following reasons:

Your child might have received the first dose before 1 year of age.
Once your child is 7 years old, the second dose of Varicella becomes over-due. It is possible that OPH only has one dose on record.
The Varicella vaccine is invalid because it was given too soon after another live vaccine

Receiving the Varicella vaccine too early or too soon after another live vaccine causes the dose to be invalid because it may not provide your child with adequate protection against the disease. Your child may also receive Varicella in the form of MMRV vaccine where the Varicella vaccine is combined with protection against Measles, Mumps and Rubella. Confirm the date with your health care provider and update Ottawa Public Health. Knowing the brand name of the vaccine will also be helpful so we can accurately record it in your child's file.

You have to report to Ottawa Public Health if your child born in 2010 or later has had previous infection of chickenpox on or after 1 year of age.

Why does my child need Polio vaccine? My child has received it.

Polio is a series vaccine, meaning that it requires multiple doses at specific ages and intervals to provide adequate protection.

Your child may have received a letter for Polio due to any of the following reasons:

Your child is missing one of more doses of their Polio series (note that all children require their final dose of Polio vaccine to be on or after their 4^th birthday).
A dose of Polio immunization could be invalid if the minimal interval between Polio immunizations was not respected.
Your child might be on a catch-up schedule and is now overdue to receive immunization(s).
Your child received Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV) on or after April 2016. Changes in the provincial requirements for polio vaccination were made to ensure all children have protection from all three types of polio. Since international doses of oral polio given on and after April 1, 2016, only protect against two of the three polio virus types OPV doses given after this date are not considered valid.

Confirm with your healthcare provider if your child has completed the series in correct intervals (time between vaccines) and update Ottawa Public Health. Knowing the brand name of the vaccine will also be helpful so we can accurately record it in your child's file.

Why does my child need a Diphtheria, Tetanus and/ or Pertussis? My child has received these.

Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis are series vaccines, meaning that they require multiple doses at specific ages and intervals to provide adequate protection.

Your child may have received a letter for Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis due to any of the following reasons:

Your child is missing one or more doses of their Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis series. Please note that all children require a booster dose of Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis vaccine to be on or after the 4^th birthday (generally between the ages of 4 and 6) and then every 10 years (with the first booster dose generally between the ages of 14 and 16).
A dose of Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis immunization could be invalid if it was given too early or if the minimal interval between Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis immunizations was not respected.
Your child might be on a catch-up schedule and is now overdue to receive their next Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis immunization(s).

Confirm the dates with your healthcare provider and update Ottawa Public Health. Knowing the brand name of the vaccine will also be helpful so we can accurately record it in your child's file.

Can my child receive Pertussis only if my child has already received Tetanus and Diphtheria.

A pertussis-only vaccine is not available in Canada. If your child requires a pertussis immunization, they will receive a combined diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis vaccine.

Some health care providers administer diphtheria and tetanus (Td) only vaccine during an emergency procedure. There is no harm in receiving a diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP/Tdap) vaccine for the added protection against pertussis. Confirm with your healthcare provider if a diphtheria and tetanus (Td) or a diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DTaP/Tdap) vaccine was given and update Ottawa Public Health. Knowing the brand name of the vaccine will also be helpful so we can accurately record it in your child's file.

Why does my child need Men-C-C? My child has received it.

All children in grade 5 or below require once dose of Men-C-C vaccine received on or after their first birthday.

Your child may have received a letter for Men-C-C due to any of the following reasons:

Your child might have received a dose of Men-C-C before 1 year of age.
A dose of Men-C-C could be invalid if the minimal interval between meningococcal C-strain immunizations was not respected.

Receiving Men-C-C too early is considered invalid and may not provide adequate protection against the disease. Even if your child has received more than one dose prior to 1 year of age, a booster dose after 1^st birthday is still required to ensure adequate protection.

Confirm the date with your healthcare provider and update Ottawa Public Health. Knowing the brand name of the vaccine will also be helpful so we can accurately record it in your child's file.

Why does my child need Men-C-ACYW135? My child has received it.

All children in grade 7 to 12 require one dose of Men-C-ACYW135.

Your child may have received a letter for Men-C-ACYW135 due to any of the following reasons:

Your child might have received a dose of Men-C-ACYW135 before 1 year of age.
A dose of Men-C-ACYW135 could be invalid if the minimal interval between meningococcal vaccines was not respected.

The Men-C-ACYW135 vaccine is offered in schools in grade 7 and is a mandatory vaccine. All children in grade 7 or older must have received one men-C-ACYW135 vaccine.

It is recommended that children receive this vaccine at 12 years old to provide adequate protection against meningococcal disease, regardless of previous doses received. Any child born on or after 1997 remains eligible to receive a dose of Men-C-ACYW135 through school-based clinics (if in grade 7 to 12), your health care provider or walk-in clinic.

What vaccines does my child need and when?

For information on routine immunizations given to children 2 months to 18 years please visit the “Vaccines children or youth need" – web page.

What is the age of consent in Ontario?

The Health Care Consent Act, 1996 of Ontario, states that there is no minimum age for consent to health care. If the student is deemed by the nurse to be able to consent, they can sign their own consent form.

I cannot update my child's record online using ICON

We encourage you to download the CANImmunize App at CANimmunize.ca

CANImmunize App: a free, easy to use app that allows you to track and report your child's immunizations to OPH. Get the app on iOS and Android today! Before using the app, please ensure the following:

You are using CANImmunize the most up-to date version on an iOS or Android device
Your child is 17 years old or younger
Your device is connected to the internet
Your child lives in the Ottawa area

Possible reasons why I cannot access ICON?

Your child’s Health Card Number is not on file with Ottawa Public Health. We encourage you to download the CANImmunize App.
Have you moved in the last five years? It could be that the postal code entered does not associate with the postal code registered on your child’s Health Card with Service Ontario.

Possible solutions to update Ottawa Public Health

1. We encourage you to download the CANImmunize App at CANimmunize.ca : a free, easy to use app that allows you to track and report your child's immunizations to OPH. Get the app on iOS and Android today! Before using the app, please ensure the following:

You are using CANImmunize version 5.0.6 and up on an iOS or Android device
Your child is 17 years old or younger
Your device is connected to the internet
Your child lives in the Ottawa area

2. Fax: 613-580-9660

3. If you have tried the above but are having difficulties, you can contact OPH and speak to a nurse at 613-580-6744.

I have received a notice from Ottawa Public Health concerning the oral polio vaccine

I was previously told that my child was up-to-date with polio vaccination but have now gotten a letter about the polio vaccine not meeting vaccine requirements.

Changes in the provincial requirements for polio vaccination were made to ensure all children have protection from all three types of polio. Since international doses of oral polio given on and after April 1, 2016, only protect against two of the three polio virus types, re-vaccination may be required to ensure that vaccine coverage is complete.

I got a notice about oral polio on my child’s record. What should I do?

To make sure your child is protected from polio, make an appointment with your healthcare provider to review the record and receive any missing vaccine doses. The vaccine is free for everyone who needs it and may also be given at a walk-in clinic. Once the missing dose(s) are received, do not forget to update the record with Ottawa Public Health.

If you do not have a family doctor or nurse practitioner, and are not able to access a walk-in clinic, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) has clinics across the city which can help. Families without access to a primary care provider may be immunized at an OPH Community Clinic or Neighborhood Health and Wellness Hub. You do not need Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) to get immunized at an OPH clinic.

What is polio?

Polio (short for poliomyelitis) is a serious viral infection that can attack an infected person’s nerve cells in the spinal cord. This can lead to muscle weakness and paralysis. Symptoms may include fever, fatigue, headache, and nausea and vomiting. There are 3 types of Polio called polio serotypes (Type 1, 2 and 3). You need immunity to all 3 types of polio.

If there is no polio in Canada right now, why should I get revaccinated?

Anyone who is not fully protected is at risk of getting polio. Polio still exists in a number of countries around the world. Someone infected with polio could travel to Canada and infect people who are not fully immunized. Polio is a required vaccine for children to attend school and daycare in Ontario unless they have a valid exemption.

I still have questions and I don’t have a health care provider. What do I do?

If you have additional questions about the information in this letter, you can call Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744 to speak to a nurse about your child’s immunization record. Our telephone line is open from 9 am to 12 pm and from 1 to 4 pm Monday to Friday.

School Immunization Clinics: Questions and Answers for Parents/Guardians

Who gives the vaccines in school clinics?

Our public health nurses receive specific immunization training and annual recertification. All our nursing staff are licensed with the College of Nurses of Ontario.

What will happen if my child has a reaction after the nurses have left?

School personnel will provide first-aid. This may include referring the student to their health care provider or emergency services (if indicated). Report any reactions that occur to your child’s health care provider.

What can I do if my child is worried about the vaccination(s)?

See our "reducing pain during vaccinations" page.

My grade 7 child missed a school clinic. Where can my child get the vaccines and when?

At your child's next School Immunization Clinic (if available)

OPH has school clinics twice a year(in the fall and in the spring).
A signed consent form or verbal consent is needed for your child to receive the vaccines at school.
Your child will bring the consent form home the week prior to the fall clinic.
A consent form is also available on our website.
Send the signed consent form with your child on the day of the school clinic.
- If you are unable to send the signed consent from with your child on the clinic date, please contact the school office to notify them that you would like the School Clinic Lead Nurse to contact you to provide verbal consent over the phone.

At an OPH Clinic

If your child has not received all their grade 7 school vaccines, and there are no future dates at your child’s school in their grade 7 school year, you can schedule an appointment at one of our Community Vaccination Clinics or visit the nearest Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs for their immunizations.

At your doctor’s office

Vaccines for grade 7 students can only be released for special circumstances such as:
- If your child has a serious underlying health issue.
- If your child has a severe needle phobia.
- If your child suffers from behavioural, cognitive or emotional exceptionalities that might make providing consent and receiving a vaccine difficult in a group situation.

My child (in grades 8 to 12) is missing grade 7 vaccines.

At an Ottawa Public Health Clinic

If your child has not received all their grade 7 school vaccines, you can schedule an appointment at one of our Community Vaccination Clinics or visit the nearest Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs for their immunizations.

Vaccine	How many doses?	Who is eligible?
Meningococcal (Menactra® or Nimenrix®)	1 dose	All grade 7 to 12 students *Mandatory as of grade 7
Human Papillomavirus (Gardasil®9)	2 doses or 3 doses (depending on age)	All grade 7 to 12 students
Hepatitis B (Engerix®-B or Recombivax®)	2 doses or 3 doses (depending on age)	All grade 7 to 12 students

At your health care provider's office (if there is an underlying health issue or severe needle phobia)

Your health care provider can request that the vaccines be released to their office by completing the online request form.

Vaccines for grade 7-12 students can only be released for special circumstances such as:

If your child has a serious underlying health issue.
If your child has a severe needle phobia.
If your child suffers from behavioural, cognitive or emotional exceptionalities that might make providing consent and receiving a vaccine difficult in a group situation.

I have questions about the Hepatitis B Vaccine.

My child received 3 doses of Hepatitis B vaccine as an infant. Does my child still need this vaccine?

No. Your child does not need another dose of Hepatitis B vaccination if the intervals between the three doses are correct. The three doses of Hepatitis B your child received as a baby should provide lifetime immunity. The National Advisory Committee for Immunization (NACI) does not recommend a booster dose for healthy individuals.

Please indicate “No” on the consent form if your child does not need to receive the vaccine at school.

Is Twinrix® a Hepatitis B vaccine?

Twinrix® or Twinrix®Junior is a vaccine that protects against both the Hepatitis B and Hepatitis A virus. Some people purchase these vaccines when they are planning to travel to countries where Hepatitis B and/or Hepatitis A are common.

My child received two doses of Twinrix Junior when he was small. Should I sign a consent for my child to receive Hepatitis B vaccine in grade 7 at school?

We recommend that you discuss with your health care provider (or the office where the vaccines were given) to see if your child needs another dose of the vaccine. We recommend that you complete the third dose of Twinrix® Junior at your health care provider's office if needed. There will be a charge for Twinrix® Junior because it is not publicly funded in Ontario.

If you prefer to have your child receive the publicly funded Hepatitis B vaccine at school, they will then be complete for their Hepatitis B vaccines, but may require a final dose of Hepatitis A from their health care provider's office to be completely protected against both Hepatitis B and Hepatitis A. Please ensure that your child's record is updated with the correct dates of the vaccines.

My child received 2 doses of Twinrix®Junior vaccine in Quebec when my child was in grade 4. Does my child still need more Hepatitis B vaccine?

No. Research has recently shown that students who received 2 doses of Twinrix®Junior vaccine given 6 months apart, have shown an equivalent antibody response to those who received all three doses of Twinrix® Junior. For this reason, they are considered to have completed their Hepatitis B and Hepatitis A series, so they don't need to receive another Hepatitis B vaccination. Please ensure that your child's record is updated with the correct dates of the vaccines.

My child was born in another province and received three doses of DTaP-IPV-HB-Hib vaccine (Diptheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Polio, Hepatitis B and Haemophilus influenzae type B) as an infant, does my child need another dose of Hepatitis B for a booster dose?

No. Your child does not need another dose of Hepatitis B vaccination if the intervals between the three doses are correct.

The three doses of DTaP-IPV-HB-Hib that your child received as a baby should provide lifetime immunity. The National Advisory Committee for Immunization (NACI) does not recommend a booster dose for healthy individuals.

I have questions about Meningococcal C-ACWY-135 vaccine.

My child received a Meningococcal vaccine after age one. Why is another one needed in grade 7?

The meningococcal vaccine that your child most likely received after one year of age was a vaccine that covers one meningococcal disease strain - the C strain. The protection from that vaccine decreases over time and a booster dose is needed. Studies show that youth and young people from ages 14 to 25 are at an increased risk for meningococcal disease.
Meningococcal conjugate- ACWY-135 (Menactra®, Menveo®, or Niminrix®) protects against 4 of the dangerous strains of meningococcal disease. It is recommended that all teens on or after 12 years of age receive a dose of Meningococcal C-ACYW-135, even if they already received a previous dose. In Ontario it is provided during grade 7 and it is mandatory for school.

My child received meningococcal conjugate-ACWY-135 before age 11. Is another dose needed in grade 7?

If it has been more than 6 months since your child received a previous dose of meningococcal conjugate-ACYW135 vaccine, it is recommended for adolescents to receive another dose in grade 7.

I have questions about the HPV vaccine.

Through the School Immunization Program, all students attending grade 7 in Ontario are eligible to receive publicly-funded doses of HPV9 until the end of grade 12.

I have questions about how the school immunization program works.

I heard that nurses don't bring the paper consents with them into the school during the spring vaccinations. How do you know whether a parent has consented to a vaccine?

The consents the students bring to us in the fall of grade 7 are entered immediately into our electronic record system. Nurses are authorized to provide the immunization for a period of 24 months unless consent is withdrawn in writing.

I have completed a non-medical exemption for vaccination for my child. How can I be sure that my grade 7 child won't receive the vaccine at a school clinic?

Once you have completed the exemption process, there will be an alert placed on your child's electronic profile and the nurse will see that your child (children) are not to be immunized for specific vaccines.
It is a good idea to also speak with your child ahead of time to let them know that they should not be receiving a vaccine at the school clinic.

When you are giving each child up to 3 vaccines how can you ensure that they will get the meningococcal conjugate ACYW135 vaccine that is needed for school attendance? I'm worried they will be suspended from school if they miss it.

When we give the vaccines in grade 7 we give them in the following order: meningococcal conjugate ACYW-135, Hepatitis B, then HPV. This is done so that they will receive the one that is mandatory for school attendance first, followed by Hepatitis B then HPV9.

My child is on special medications for an underlying health condition. Is it safe for them to receive the school immunization program vaccines?

There are very few underlying health conditions that would prevent a child from receiving vaccines. Consult with your child’s health care provider prior to the date of the school clinic regarding any questions you may have about your child's specific situation.

My child has a serious needle phobia. What are my options to ensure that publicly funded vaccines are received?

Needle anxiety is common in teens. Our nurses in the school clinics have dealt with many anxious children and have developed several techniques to make the process as anxiety-free as possible.

Distraction
Allowing a student to listen to music
Using ice or a local anesthetic like EMLA® or Ametop® to numb the injection site
Ensure you send your child to school well fed.
Pack an extra drink or snack to avoid fainting.

If you know ahead of time that your child is prone to fainting, please contact us ahead of time so we can lie them down on the gym mats for their immunization. Explain what will happen in the clinic.

How will the school clinics run?

Students will be called down by class to the school clinic to receive their vaccines.

Students will be supervised for at least 15 minutes post-vaccine.

Severe reactions are rare and most occur within 15 minutes of getting the vaccine. The nurses will stay at the school for at least 15 minutes after the last vaccine is given.

If your child attends a larger school, nursing staff may vaccinate over a two or three-day period.

Who can I contact if I have questions or if I did not get a consent form?

You can find the consent forms, clinic dates for your child's school and other immunization information, online at ParentingInOttawa.ca/immunization.

You may also speak to a public health nurse at 613-580-6744 if you have any immunization questions.

Is my child still eligible to receive their school-based vaccine series?

Vaccines
Vaccine	How many doses?	Who is eligible?
Meningococcal (Menactra^®or Nimenrix®)	1 dose	All grade 7 to 12 students *Mandatory as of grade 7
Human Papillomavirus (Gardasil^®9)	2 doses or 3 doses (depending on age)	All grade 7 to12 students
Hepatitis B (Recombivax^®HB or Engerix-B^®)	2 doses or 3 doses (depending on age)	All grade 7 to 12 students

Students require consent to get the Meningococcal, Hepatitis B and HPV vaccines. Students are old enough to give consent for the vaccines but usually consent along with their parent(s).

Visit our diseases prevented by routine vaccination page for more information.

See what vaccines are publicly funded in Ontario in this resource.

Questions?

Prior to calling Ottawa Public Health, please verify your child’s record through ICON or CanImmunize. For more information about ICON, the CANImmuize App and other ways to report your child's immunizations to OPH, visit our Updating your child's record page.

Disclaimer

Answers to these questions are for information purposes only and are not intended to replace medical advice. If you need more information, we recommend that you consult your health care provider or call Ottawa Public Health and ask to speak with a nurse.

Do you have more questions about parenting?

Connect with a registered nurse from Health811 for free, secure, and confidential health advice. Service is available 24/7 in English and French, with translation support also offered in other languages. Call 8-1-1 or visit Health811.ontario.ca.
Connect with a Community Navigator from 2-1-1 for information about community programs and resources across Eastern Ontario. Helpline service is available 24/7 and in many different languages. Call 2-1-1 or visit 211ontario.ca.
Connect with other parents on the Parenting in Ottawa Facebook page.
There are a variety of services to make it easier for your child to grow up healthy in Ottawa.
You can update your child's immunization record using either the Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) Tool or the CANImmunize App.
If you have received a message from Ottawa Public Health such as a letter or a call regarding immunization, an infectious disease, or infection control lapse, please call 613-580-6744 and listen to the menu options carefully.