Vaccinations for Child Care Workers

As per the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014, “Every licensee of a child care centre shall ensure that, before commencing employment, every person employed in a child care centre it operates and every volunteer or student who is on an educational placement with the licensee has a health assessment and immunization as directed by the local medical officer of health.”

WDG Public Health’s Medical Officer of Health strongly recommends child care centre staff, students (high school and post-secondary) and volunteers are vaccinated against (or have immunity to) tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, measles, mumps, rubella, chickenpox and hepatitis B, prior to their employment and/or placement. It is also encouraged that child care staff, students and volunteers are vaccinated against hepatitis A, seasonal influenza and COVID-19 prior to their employment or placement.

Child care centres are required to maintain staff vaccination records and provide them to Public Health upon request. Refer to the Pre-Employment Immunization Form below.

Recommended vaccinations for child care staff, students, and volunteers:

Pre-employment Immunization Form for Childcare Staff (PDF, 2 pages)

Vaccine Documentation required*

Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis (Tdap)

Tetanus is naturally occurring in the soil.

Pertussis, also called the “100-day cough” is very dangerous to young infants.

Diphtheria can be cause damage to the heart, kidneys an nervous system and death.

 1 dose of Tdap between ages 14 and 16 and 1 dose as an adult, then 1 dose of Td every 10 years

Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)

Measles is very contagious and can spread through the air even after the infectious person has left the room.

Documented 2 doses

OR

Proof of immunity

Adults born before 1970 are considered immune.

Varicella (chickenpox)

Chickenpox can spread through the air days before the rash is present. It can lead to severe complications.

2 doses given at least 6 weeks apart

OR

Self-reported history of chickenpox infection

OR

Proof of immunity 

Hepatitis B

People with hepatitis B may not show symptoms but can spread the virus through body fluids.

For personal protection, all staff should be vaccinated.

Documented 2 to 4 doses (dependent of series provided)

OR

Proof of immunity

Seasonal influenza

  • Annual influenza (flu) vaccination is recommended for everyone.
  • Children less than 5 years of age are at high risk of influenza-related complications.
  • Influenza vaccine is also important for staff who have chronic health conditions.
 One dose annually

Hepatitis A

  • Hepatitis A is a virus that is shed in the stool. It is spread person-to-person by the fecal-oral route.
  • Children who have hepatitis A often don’t show symptoms. Changing diapers means hepatitis A could spread to staff.
  • Food handlers with hepatitis A infection who do not wash their hands after having a bowel movement can spread the virus to others through food preparation.

Two or three** dose series

 

**Dependent on series given; also available as a combination vaccine with hepatitis B

COVID-19

  • COVID-19 is a respiratory virus that can spread quickly between people. 
  • Young children, immunocompromised individuals, and older adults are at greater risk for complications after infection. 
 Primary series, and additional doses as recommended.

*Speak to a healthcare provider if proof of immunity (blood work) is required

Due to the risk of harm to a developing fetus, staff, students and volunteers of childbearing age are strongly encouraged to confirm their immunity to Parvovirus B19 (Fifths disease) and Cytomegalovirus (CMV).

Exemptions

Child care staff, students or volunteers who object to vaccination for religious, conscientious or medical reasons must submit to their employer a valid exemption form. See below for the Ministry of Education exemption forms. The child care centre must collect and maintain exemption forms.

Name of Form Requirements
Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief Must be signed by a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits
Statement of Medical Exemption Must be signed by a healthcare provider and include their license or registration number

Exclusion

In the event of a vaccine-preventable disease outbreak, child care staff, students, and volunteers, who are not vaccinated or do not have proof of immunity, will be excluded from the child care centre until it is safe to return as directed by a WDG Public Health official.

Tuberculosis screening

Tuberculosis screening is no longer required for staff working in licensed child care settings.