Vaccine requirements
Peel Public Health works with schools to protect students from vaccine preventable diseases and keep classrooms safe.
Children in school must either:
- Be vaccinated against certain diseases, or
- Have a valid exemption.
Families are required to provide up to date vaccination information for their child when registering for school for the first time and each time they get a required vaccine while attending school. Vaccination requirements align with the Publicly Funded Immunization Schedules in Ontario.
Role of the school
We know that concerned parents may come to school principals as a first point of contact. Direct all questions from parents and students to Peel Public Health at 905-791-5202 or toll-free 1-888-919-7800.
Translation services are available when calling Peel Public Health if they do not speak English.
Role of Peel Public Health
Peel Public Health screens and enforces student vaccination records for school aged children under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA).
Peel Public Health will send 2 reminder letters and one order of suspension if a student’s record is incomplete. If the information still isn’t up to date with Peel Public Health at the end of this time, the student will be suspended from school.
By law, the Medical Officer of Health can issue orders for principals to suspend students who don’t update their immunization record or provide a valid exemption. Schools must follow the suspension list and ensure affected students don’t attend class.
Peel Public Health works closely with schools to communicate information about this annual process. This includes lists that schools can use to know which students are at risk of vaccine-related suspension and additional communications materials that can be used to support families who need it.
Role of parents or students 16 years or older
Parents and students are responsible for making sure their child gets all vaccines required for school and reporting those vaccines to Peel Public Health.
Doctors do not report vaccines to public health. Parents and students must update the vaccination record themselves to avoid suspension. Parents and students must report all vaccines including infant and booster doses.
If parents or students 16 years or older have questions about the immunization record or the reporting process, they should contact Peel Public Health (PPH). PPH is required by Ontario’s privacy law (Personal Health Information Protection Act) to only speak to the person whose health information is being discussed.
Students who are 16 years or older need to provide permission for Peel Public Health to share their personal health information with a parent or guardian before it is shared.
Peel Public Health works closely with schools to help families understand the importance of keeping vaccination records up to date. This partnership helps students stay up to date and reduces the number of students at risk of vaccine-related suspension.
Your school can help minimize suspensions for families by:
- Providing updated information to Peel Public Health when requested.
- Communicating with parents and reminding parents of students on lists to update their child’s vaccination records. Remind them doctors don’t report vaccinations for them.
- Offering language support, if possible, by suggesting a family friend or settlement worker interpret information from Peel Public Health. Tell families they can call Peel Public Health for translation assistance.
- Contacting Peel Public Health about students with unique circumstances so we can provide extra support to these families.
If the parent or guardian has chosen not to vaccinate their child, they can apply for an exemption. If the child has a valid exemption, they will not be suspended from school, however, they may not be allowed to attend school during a disease outbreak.
There are 2 types of exemptions:
- A non-medical exemption for conscience or religious beliefs
- A medical exemption
Refer to vaccine requirements for school for details about exemptions.