Each year, as children head off to school, there are many things to consider. Are lunches packed? Did they get on the right bus? Can they find their classrooms?

An important question that is often overlooked is: Are their immunizations up-to-date?

The Immunization Act

The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires that the Medical Officer of Health must have a complete immunization record for any child attending school in their jurisdiction. Parents provide this information when registering their child for school. The school submits completed forms to the public health office. The purpose of the Act is to increase the protection of children's against the following designated diseases:

• diphtheria
• tetanus
• polio
• measles
• mumps
• rubella

Choosing Not to Immunize

NOTE: Immunization is not mandatory in Ontario. If you choose NOT to immunize your child, the ISPA requires a legal exemption form to be kept on file at the public health office stating this decision. You must have this form notarized and signed by a commissioner¹. If an outbreak of a designated disease occurs in your child"s school, your child may be sent home until the outbreak is declared over. Choosing not to immunize is a major decision that should not be taken lightly.

Required Immunizations

What does up-to-date mean? By the age of seven, most children have had

• five doses of diphtheria, tetanus, and polio vaccine combinations
• two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine

(See Ontario's recommended vaccination schedule).

This schedule may be different for children who were immunized in another country. However, once the child resides in Ontario, they must follow Ontario's schedule. This may mean the child may need additional immunizations to "catch up" to the current Ontario schedule.

Updating Immunization Records

Public health is required to screen the immunization records of all children attending schools in their district. A questionnaire is mailed to the child's parents if our records indicate that the child's immunizations are not up-to-date.

If immunization records are NOT completed or up-to-date, parents/guardians should

• provide any missing information
• obtain any missing immunizations, and
• return the questionnaire to the school or public health office.

Report your child's immunization to Public Health.

At the high-school level, the questionnaire includes a section for consent. The public health office will hold clinics at high schools to provide students with a booster of tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis. The public health office will also provide any vaccinations (for the designated diseases) that a child may have missed, with an informed consent.

Mandatory Response

Parents/guardians must provide the information required to complete the questionnaire. Unfortunately, a suspension from school will be issued by the Medical Officer of Health until the students' immunization records are complete. 

 The suspension date is set well in advance so the family can make arrangements for the required immunization(s). The suspension order will be cancelled when the public health office receives proof of the required immunization.

Our nurses at WDG Public Health work closely with schools and parents to make sure information is obtained and updated so there will be no interruption of your child's education. We want your child to have the safest and healthiest school year possible. We thank you for your co-operation during these school-year screenings.

¹A Commissioner of Oaths is a person empowered under provincial legislation to administer and witness the swearing of oaths or solemn affirmations in the taking of an affidavit for any potential legal matter.
Commissioners include:

• Head of Municipal Council
• Clerk or Deputy Clerk
• Treasurer or Deputy Treasurer
• Reeve or Depute Reeve
• Lawyer
• Member of Provincial Parliament