Adult Pertussis Booster
Find out how to protect yourself and the children around you.
Expanded Immunization Program
New and expanded Ontario Immunization Program.
Immunization Records for Schools
Immunizations help to protect the health of children in our community.
Peel Public Health is required by law to keep immunization records for all school-aged children.
The school provides immunization records to us only at the time of registration.
Parents are responsible for updating their child's immunization record with Peel Public Health.
Doctors do not report this information.
Peel Public Health regularly reviews student immunization records to make sure that students have their immunization records up-to-date.
Students who are missing required immunizations on their record, will receive a letter from Peel Public Health to update this information.
- Did you Receive a Letter from Peel Public Health?
- Questions and Answers About Immunization for Children?
Did you Receive a Letter from Peel Public Health?
Peel Public Health must, by law, have a record that shows students attending school have been fully immunized according to the Ontario immunization schedule. Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, students under the age of 18 must provide proof of either an up-to-date immunization against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps and rubella, or a valid exemption.
Students whose immunization records are incomplete are asked to provide their immunization information to Peel Public Health. Students may be suspended from school if this information is not provided.
- Why did I get a letter from Peel Public Health?
- What should I do if I received a letter from Peel Public Health?
- I have already provided immunization records to Peel Public Health. Why did I get a letter?
- Why are my child's immunization records considered to be incomplete?
Why did I get a letter from Peel Public Health?
Peel Public Health does not have a record of all or some of the immunizations that are required for your child to attend school. Parents are responsible for updating their child’s immunization record with the health department. The school provides immunization records to us only at the time of registration. Your doctor does not provide the information to Peel Public Health.
What should I do if I received a letter from Peel Public Health?
You should contact Peel Public Health to provide the dates (day, month and year) for all immunizations listed in section B of the Immunization Record Update form or Section 1 of the Suspension order (Yellow Forms). This form was sent to you with the letter.
You may also report immunizations online or by phone at 905-799-7700.
I have already provided immunization records to Peel Public Health. Why did I get a letter?
If you have recently submitted your records and have received a letter from Peel Public Health, please do not resubmit the same information. You have received a letter because there is additional immunization information needed. Please submit new immunization information by filling in the online form.
If you’re not sure which immunization(s) are missing, refer to the
Common Reasons for an Incomplete Record and answer the questions to assist you.
Why are my child’s immunization records considered to be incomplete?
If you’re not sure which immunization(s) are missing, refer to the
Common Reasons for an Incomplete Record and answer the questions to assist you.
Common Reasons for an Incomplete Record:
1. Your child’s complete immunization records were not forwarded to Peel Public Health.
Your child may have received all the required immunizations, but Peel Public Health may not have all the updated immunization information for your child.
For example:
- Your child’s school only collects and forwards immunization records to Peel Public Health at the time of initial registration to school. After registration, you are required to update your child’s immunization record with Peel Public Health each time your child is vaccinated.
- Doctors do not report immunizations to local health departments.
- Other health units do not automatically send immunization information to Peel Public Health so you must contact the other health unit to obtain your child’s immunization record and send it to Peel Public Health.
It is important that you notify Peel Public Health every time your child is immunized.
2. Your child’s immunization record is missing infant immunizations and/or booster doses.
Your child’s record with Peel Public Health may not include some infant immunizations and/or booster doses. As your child gets older, there are additional doses of vaccine required for your child to be completely immunized for his/her age. To meet the requirements, the record must show your child has had all the doses. Please send us all dates of all infant and booster vaccinations your child had received.
3. The Ontario immunization schedule requirements are not met.
Your child’s immunization record does not meet the Ontario Immunization schedule requirements. For example, your child may have received immunizations too early. Vaccinations must be given at the right time for your child to develop proper immunity. If they are not given according to the Ontario immunization schedule, they may not be valid.
Some examples include:
- The first dose of MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) must be given on or after a child’s first birthday and the second dose at least 28 days after the first dose.
- Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, and polio vaccine requirements include 5 doses by age 6. The booster dose or the 5th dose is given between 4-6 years of age.
- The child received less than the required doses of Polio vaccine or the last dose was given before the child was 4 years of age.
- Booster doses for diphtheria and tetanus are required if it has been more than 10 years since the last dose of diphtheria and tetanus was received. It is usually required between 14 -16 years of age.
4. The exemption process has not been completed.
You have requested an exemption, but have not yet returned the completed forms to Peel Public Health. Please complete the medical form or Statement of Conscience Exemption form and return it to the health department.
5. Your child was immunized outside of Ontario or Canada, or their record is unavailable.
Your child was immunized outside Ontario or Canada, or your child’s immunization record is unavailable. In this situation, your child may require immunizations in accordance with the Ontario catch-up schedule. Please follow up with your doctor and notify us when your child has begun receiving the required immunizations.
If your child has an immunization record that is not in English, Peel Public Health will translate it free of charge for the purposes of attending school in the region of Peel.
To arrange for translation please call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700.
Question and Answers About Immunization for Children
- Why do students need to be immunized?
- I do not have a family doctor. Where can I get my child immunized?
- My child does not have an Ontario Health Card. How can I get my child immunized?
- Do I have to pay for my child to be vaccinated?
- Is it okay if my child receives several vaccines at the same time?
- I do not want my child to be immunized. Can I get an exemption?
Why do students need to be immunized?
Immunization is a simple and effective way to protect students against dangerous infectious diseases. Immunization helps the immune system build its defences against specific viruses and bacteria. Thanks to immunization, some serious diseases that are still common in other parts of the world are rarely seen in Ontario.
I do not have a family doctor. Where can I get my child immunized?
If you don’t have a family doctor, you can visit a walk-in clinic. Please call the walk-in clinic first to find out if you need to make an appointment to have your child immunized. If you need a family doctor, you can check the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario website or check with your local hospital for a list of physicians who are accepting new patients.
My child does not have an Ontario Health Card. How can I get my child immunized?
Peel Public Health provides immunizations free-of-charge for children who do not have health insurance or O.H.I.P. Please call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700 to make an appointment.
Do I have to pay for my child to be vaccinated?
No. Mandatory immunizations for the purpose of attending school are free-of-charge. For more information, please contact Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700, talk with your family doctor, or visit Where to Get Immunized.
Is it okay if my child receives several vaccines at the same time?
Yes. Several vaccines can be given at the same time. If you have any questions, please speak with your family doctor or call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700.
I do not want my child to be immunized. Can I get an exemption?
If you do not want your child to be immunized for medical, religious or conscience reasons, you may request an exemption from Peel Public Health. If there is a risk of a disease outbreak, students with an exemption may be excluded from school. Call Peel Public Health for the necessary forms.
Important Notes:
Exclusions of unimmunized students during an outbreak are often several weeks long depending on the number of cases and the period of communicability. Immunization at the time of an outbreak may not completely eliminate the need for exclusion because it may take some time for the body to develop the necessary immunity.
Medical exemption documents must be completed by a physician or nurse practitioner.
Religious or conscience affidavits must be completed by a Commissioner of Oath, a lawyer, a Justice of the Peace or a notary public.
You must return all the original, completed and signed documents to Peel Public Health for a valid exemption.
Revised: Friday November 04 2011
