Immunizations for Youth and School Vaccine Information

In Grade 7

 Eligibility for school-based vaccines for the 2020-2021 school year

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). During your appointment, Ottawa Public Health nurses will obtain your verbal consent. Make sure that you and your youth have discussed what vaccines are to be given prior to the appointment.

Normally students receive vaccinations for Human Papillomavirus (HPV), Hepatitis B and Meningococcal in grade 7 at school clinics provided by Ottawa Public Health throughout the school year.  However, clinics for school vaccines are currently on hold due the pandemic. Please visit this webpage for the latest information.

Between the ages of 14 and 16 years

1. Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (Tdap)

Your child should have received their first booster dose between the ages of 4 and 6 years. Check your youth's immunization record to find out when your youth was vaccinated. This 14-16 year old booster dose is required 10 years from their 4-6 year old booster dose. The Tdap vaccine is not given in schools. You will need to get it from your healthcare provider. If you do not have a healthcare provider, you can get it from a walk-in clinic.

If you are unsure whether your child has received one or more of these vaccines please call 613-580-6744 and speak to a nurse who can discuss which vaccines your child requires.

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

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

Where can my youth receive immunizations?

Updating your child’s immunization records: 

Parent(s)/Guardian(s) are responsible for updating OPH every time their child receives immunizations given by their health care provider. Providing immunization updates to OPH helps protect your child and the public in case there is ever a vaccine preventable disease outbreak in our community.  

To check to see if your child is due for vaccinations, or to update your child’s immunization record with OPH, please visit the online Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) Tool or the CANImmunize App. 

Where can my youth receive immunizations?  

Due to the recent announcement that youth aged 12-17 can now receive the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine starting end of May, Ottawa Public Health has had to put a hold on the school vaccination Catch-up clinics.

According to the National Advisory Committee on Immunization, the current recommendations for the Pfizer BioNtech vaccine are:

1. Wait 14 days after a non-COVID-19 vaccine before receiving a COVID-19 vaccine 
2. Wait 28 days after each dose of COVID-19 vaccine before receiving any other vaccine 

Because of this, the school vaccination Catch-up clinics are being paused at this time. Ottawa Public Health will update parents when more information is known about restarting the school-based vaccinations for Grade 7 and 8’s.

Gr 7 and 8 vaccinations at your doctor’s office: 

Additionally, in Ontario, routine immunizations can be given at your family doctor or a walk-in clinic, if your family doctor or the walk-in clinic has agreed to offer this service. If your child requires a routine vaccination, please follow up with their primary care provider. Your doctor can complete a form to send to the Ottawa Public Health vaccine room.

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. 

Reducing pain during vaccination

Getting a vaccine might be a scary for some youth. Try some of these helpful tips; they may be your best shot to help your youth overcome their fear.

Offer helpful distractions such as:

• Talking to your youth
• Having them listen to music with earphones
• Getting them to play games or texting on a cell phone

For older children and youth who are very fearful, think about medications that numb the skin:

• Talk to your health care provider about creams such as EMLA^® or Ametop^® that can help numb the skin. They are available without a prescription.
• Ask your health care provider to show you the right locations to apply the cream. Keep in mind that, on some visits, more than one injection may be given. Read the instructions before applying the product. It must be on the skin 30 to 60 minutes before the injection(s). 
• Offering praise and a reward after vaccinations can help children and youth of all ages!