Immunization Requirements for Child Care Centres

Ottawa Public Health assesses the immunization record of children attending licensed child care centres in the city of Ottawa to ensure their immunizations are up to date according to Ontario’s Immunization Schedule.

Parents/guardians are responsible for updating OPH each time their child receives an immunization by their health care provider.

Update your child's record

Immunization requirements for licensed child care centres

Upon registration at a licensed child care centre, parent(s)/guardian(s) must provide a copy of their child's immunization record to the child care provider and to Ottawa Public Health (OPH). Under the "Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (CCEYA)", children attending childcare in Ontario are required to be vaccinated against the following diseases as per the local medical officer of health:

For more information about these diseases and the vaccines that prevent them, click on the diseases above.

Immunization Exemptions

Under the Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA), a Statement of Medical Exemption or Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief are accepted. A parent/guardian who is submitting a medical or non-medical must complete a standardized ministry approved exemption form.

In the event of an outbreak related to a vaccine preventable disease, any child with a conscience or religious belief exemption, and certain medical exemptions on file will be excluded from attending a child care centre until the risk related to the outbreak has ended.

Before submitting an exemption, we encourage you to speak with a nurse to discuss how to best protect your child from vaccine preventable diseases.

For any questions related to vaccines or the exemption process, call OPH at 613-580-6744 to speak with a nurse. 

Medical Exemption

A medical exemption can be submitted if a child attending a licensed child care centre in Ottawa has a medical condition that prevents them from receiving the vaccine or there is evidence of immunity to the disease making further immunization unnecessary.

  • Print the Statement of Medical Exemption, Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014
  • Have your child’s health care provider complete the form (you may be charged a fee).
  • Send a copy of the completed exemption form to OPH by:
    • Mail: Immunization Unit, Mail Code 26-42, 100 Constellation Dr, Ottawa ON, K2G 6J8; or
    • Fax: 613-580-9660
  • Provide a copy to your child care centre.
  • Keep the original for your own records.

Non-medical Exemption
  • Print and complete the Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief, Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014. The Statement must be signed by a parent/guardian in the presence of a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits (you may be charged a fee). 
  • Send a copy of the completed exemption form to OPH by:
    • Mail: Immunization Unit, Mail Code 26-42, 100 Constellation Dr, Ottawa ON, K2G 6J8; or
    • Fax: 613-580-9660
  • Provide a copy to your child care centre.
  • Keep the original for your own records.

New to Canada or Ontario?

Before your child attends a child care centre in Ottawa, we recommend that you contact your health care provider or OPH to assess your child's immunization record. This will ensure that your child's immunizations are up to date according to the Publicly Funded Immunization Schedules for Ontario, and that they are fully protected against vaccine preventable diseases.

Looking for more information?

View Ontario’s Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule to find out which vaccine your child needs next.  

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 a Public Health Nurse and 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 CANImmunize App or the Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) Tool. 
  • 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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