Immunizations for child care centre staff
If you work in a child care centre it’s required that your immunizations are up-to-date. You can contact your doctor or the Region to see if your immunizations need updating.
These immunizations are required by the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014, Regulation 137/15 (CCEYA). This means the child care centre operator must ensure anyone working or living in the child care setting receive the recommended immunizations.
We recommend the following immunizations.
| Immunization | Dosage |
|---|---|
| Diphtheria, Tetanus | A series of at least 3 doses and booster dose every 10 years |
| Pertussis | One dose of pertussis containing vaccine1 in adulthood (10 years following your adolescent dose, which is typically received between 14-16 years of age) |
| Polio | A series of at least 3 doses |
| Measles, Mumps | Adults born in or after 1970
|
| Rubella | One dose of rubella containing vaccine, MMR2
or Evidence of immunity by bloodwork |
| Hepatitis B | A series of either 2 or 3 doses are needed depending on the vaccine product given or Evidence of immunity by bloodwork |
| Varicella (chickenpox) | A series of 2 doses |
| Hepatitis A Meningococcal |
Immunization is recommended for those notified by public health that they have been exposed to someone who has the disease. |
Annual influenza immunization is strongly encouraged. However, proof of immunization is not required at this time.
Immunization exemptions
Staff may request an immunization exemption for medical, religious or conscience reasons.
- A physician or nurse practitioner must complete medical exemption documents.
- Religious or conscience affidavits must be sworn before a Commissioner of Oath, a lawyer, a Justice of the Peace or a notary public.
Staff must return the original, completed and signed documents to the child care centre provider. For more information on exemptions, please call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700.
In the case of an outbreak at the child care centre, staff with an exemption (or incomplete immunization records) may be at risk for infection and therefore may be excluded from working in the child care centre until the outbreak is over.
Health assessment requirements
- Under the CCEYA each person employed in a child care centre must have a health assessment and immunization as recommended by the local medical officer of health.
- In Peel, the direction from our Medical Officer of Health is that a physician assessment for tuberculosis (TB) is required within 6 months before starting work. For more information on TB assessment recommendations call the Region at 905-799-7700. Employees are not required to have a general medical examination either on beginning employment or at any later date.
1 Pertussis vaccine is only available in combination with diphtheria and tetanus vaccine (Tdap)
2 Rubella vaccine is only available in combination with measles and mumps vaccine (MMR or MMRV)
