Immunization Requirements for School

⚠ Ottawa Public Health encourages families to update immunization records

Have you received a letter from Ottawa Public Health?

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is starting its yearly check of children's immunization records to make sure they meet the requirements of the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA). You are responsible for updating OPH every time your child gets a vaccine. This year, OPH will send notices to students born in 2007 and 2017. To attend school in Ontario, students need to be vaccinated against nine diseases or have a medical or religious/philosophical exemption. 

Under the "Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA)", children attending school in Ontario are required to be vaccinated against:

We understand that this process can be stressful, and we are here to help. If you received a letter from Ottawa Public Health and need assistance, please call 613-580-6744 and listen to the menu options carefully.

Why did I receive a Notice of Incomplete Immunization Record from OPH?

If your child's immunization record is missing information, you will receive a "Notice of Incomplete Immunization Record". This notice will show what vaccines are missing and how to update the record with OPH. You have 1 month to update the record before a "Suspension Order" is sent. This gives you another month to update the record before the suspension starts. The suspension can last up to 20 school days if no action is taken.

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.

For more detailed information on the notice and requirements, go to "Frequently Asked Questions About Immunizations

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.

What do I need to do?

  • Review your child’s immunization record. 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. Only vaccines required for attending a school are shown in your Notice.
  • If your child has received their vaccines, update your child’s immunization record with Ottawa Public Health.
  • If your child has not received their vaccines, please have your child receive their vaccines through their healthcare provider, a walk-in clinic or through one of the Ottawa Public Health immunization clinics. If your child has a healthcare provider but cannot get an appointment before the suspension start date, do not cancel the appointment. Instead, you can contact OPH at 613-580-6744 and notify us of the appointment details to prevent the suspension.  As soon as the missing vaccines(s) are received you will need to update the file with OPH to avoid future suspension.
  • If you do not have copies of your child’s immunization record, contact your health care provider to obtain a copy.
  • New to Canada or Ontario? Before your child attends a school 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.

Listen to Dr. Trevor and Nurse Katie as they chat about school immunization surveillance

Additional information 

When is Ottawa Public Health mailing letters?

For dates when letters will be mailed for children with incomplete immunization records, select the school board below that applies to your child. 

 CEPEO (Elementary – High School)

Notices Generated: November 20, 2024

Notices mailed: December 4, 2024

Must respond by: January 3, 2025

Suspension Orders generated: January 24, 2025

Suspension Orders mailed: February 5, 2025

Suspension start date: March 17, 2025

OCSB (Elementary) 
Notices Generated: November 27, 2024

Notices mailed: December 11, 2024

Must respond by: January 10, 2025

Suspension Orders generated: January 31, 2025

Suspension Orders mailed: February 12, 2025

Suspension start date: March 24, 2025

CECCE (Elementary – High School)

Notices Generated: December 4, 2024

Notices mailed: December 18, 2024

Must respond by: January 17, 2025

Suspension Orders generated: February 7, 2025

Suspension Orders mailed: February 19, 2025

Suspension start date: March 31, 2025

OCSB (High School)

Notices Generated: December 11, 2024

Notices mailed: December 27, 2024

Must respond by: January 24, 2025

Suspension Orders generated: February 14, 2025

Suspension Orders mailed: February 25, 2025

Suspension start date: April 7, 2025

OCDSB (Elementary)

Notices Generated: December 18, 2024

Notices mailed: January 2, 2025

Must respond by: January 31, 2025

Suspension Orders generated: February 21, 2025

Suspension Orders mailed: March 5, 2025

Suspension start date: April 14, 2025

OCDSB (High School)

Notices Generated: December 27, 2024

Notices mailed: January 8, 2025

Must respond by: February 7, 2025

Suspension Orders generated: February 28, 2025

Suspension Orders mailed: March 12, 2025

Suspension start date: April 22, 2025

 Private School

Notices Generated: January 2, 2025

Notices mailed: January 15, 2025

Must respond by: February 14, 2025

Suspension Orders generated: March 7, 2025

Suspension Orders mailed: March 19, 2025

Suspension start date: April 28, 2025

Immunization exemptions

Medical Exemption

Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA)a Statement of Medical Exemption is accepted. A parent/guardian must complete a standardized ministry approved exemption form.

A medical exemption can be submitted if a child attending a school 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.

In the event of an outbreak related to a vaccine preventable disease, any child with certain medical exemptions on file will be excluded from attending school until the risk related to the outbreak has ended.

  • Print the Statement of Medical Exemption, Immunization School Pupils Act.
  • 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 
    • Fax: 613-580-9660
  • Keep the original for your own records. 
  • Please note: We do not accept in-person drop-offs at any OPH location
  • If you have any questions about the medical exemption process, you may call OPH and speak to a nurse at 613-580-6744. 

Non-medical Exemption

Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), parent(s)/guardian(s) who choose to exempt their child from required immunizations for non-medical reasons, must complete the following steps:

STEP 1: Watch the online Vaccine Education Video by Ontario’s Ministry of Health.

  • The video is 28 minutes long. The video has closed captioning/subtitles.
  • The Vaccine Education Video covers:
    • Basic information about immunization
    • Vaccine safety
    • Immunization and community health
    • Immunization law in Ontario

 

STEP 2: Complete the electronic Attestation Form

This form is to certify that you have watched the entire “Vaccine Education Video”, without fast-forwarding or skipping any parts. You must complete an attestation form before you can receive an Education Session Certificate.

If you complete the attestation form and do not have additional questions that you wish to speak to a nurse about, you will be able to receive the completed certificate via e-mail or mail to your home address. Certificates will be sent within 10 business days from the date of completion. This certificate may be needed to get your non-medical exemption form witnessed and signed. Keep the copy for your records, you will not need to submit it as Ottawa Public Health will automatically upload a copy into your child’s file.

The person who completes the attestation must be the same person who completes the affidavit.

 

STEP 3: Fill out the Statement of Conscience and Religious Belief – Immunization of School Pupils Act form and return it to Ottawa Public Health

Have the affidavit signed by a Commissioner of Oath. Please note, there may be a fee required for this service and your Education Certificate may need to be provided. You may visit one of the City of Ottawa Service Centre locations for this service. 

Keep the original form and send the completed copy to Ottawa Public Health by one of the following: 

  • Fax: 613-580-9660
  • Mail: Ottawa Public Health Immunization Unit, Mail code: 26-42, 100 Constellation Drive, Ottawa, ON  K2G 6J8
  • Please note: We do not accept in-person drop-offs at any OPH location

 

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

All the steps above must be completed before Ottawa Public Health can process the student’s non-medical vaccine exemptions. If there are any questions about the documents submitted, OPH will follow-up with you directly. 

If you have any questions about the non-medical exemption process, you may call OPH and speak to a nurse at 613-580-6744. 

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