2023-24 Grade 7 School Immunization Clinics

About the Grade 7 Immunization Program

Hepatitis B, Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and Meningococcal immunizations are provided at no cost to Grade 7 students annually through the school-based immunization program. If your child is in Grade 7 this school year, they are eligible to receive these vaccines or complete their vaccines series if it has already begun. Public Health will be holding a vaccine clinic at each elementary school in the fall and spring.

School-based vaccines
Vaccine How many doses? Who is eligible? How long is my child eligible?

Meningococcal

(Menactra® or Nimenrix®, covers serogroups A, C, Y, W-135)

1 dose All grade 7 students Mandatory in grade 7, but students remain eligible until vaccine is received

Human Papillomavirus

(Gardasil®9)

2 doses or 3 doses (depending on age) All grade 7 students Until the end of grade 12

Hepatitis B

(Recombivax®HB or Engerix-B®)

2 doses or 3 doses (depending on age) All grade 7 students Until the end of grade 12

Learn more about Grade 7 vaccines

Parent letter and vaccine fact sheets in multiple languages

Below you will find the letter sent from Public Health to parents about the Grade 7 school immunization program along with fact sheets about each vaccine in multiple languages.

Vaccine videos to watch with your child

 

School-based immunizations in Ontario: What parents need to know - video for parents

 

 

Immunization Consent Form

Information will be sent to parents in September. Once received, please complete and submit the Online Grade 7 Immunization Consent Form. The consent is required for all children who require the vaccines. If your child has already received one or more of the vaccines listed above please complete the consent form and indicate the dates of the vaccinations on the form. A Public Health Nurse will only immunize your child if the vaccine is still needed. If you have questions or require assistance completing the consent form please call 1-800-265-7293 ext. 7006.

In-School Clinic Dates

Fall 2023 Grade 7 In-school Vaccination Clinic Dates

To find your school, press CTRL + F to use Find and start typing your school name or scroll down the list. Please check back to confirm the date if it is listed as tentative.

Sept 19 - Wellington Hall Academy

Sept 19 - Resurrection Christian Academy

Sept 21 - Quatre Rivieres

Sept 21 - By Design Learning Institute (tentative)

Sept 21 - Guelph Community Christian

Sept 22 - The Maples

Sept 22 - Orangeville Christian (tentative)

Sept 22 - St Patrick

Sept 22 - Trillium Waldorf

Sept 25 - Laurelwoods

Sept 25 - Dufferin Area Christian

Sept 25 - Kortright Hills

Sept 27 - St Mary Elora

Sept 27 - Elora Road Christian

Sept 27 - Gateway Dr

Sept 27 - Al Meezan

Sept 28 - St Michael

Sept 28 - St Peter

Sept 29 - Sacred Heart

Sept 29 - Grand Valley (tentative)

Sept 29 - East Garafraxa

Oct 2 - St John Brebeuf

Oct 2 - St Joseph Guelph

Oct 3 - St Mary Mount Forest

Oct 3 - St Paul Catholic

Oct 4 - Mary Phelan

Oct 5 - Drayton Heights

Oct 5 - Primrose

Oct 6 - Guelph Lake

Oct 6 - Sacred Heart Rockwood

Oct 10 - Centennial Hylands

Oct 10 - St Peter

Oct 11 - Sir Isaac Brock

Oct 12 - John Galt

Oct 12 - Princess Elizabeth

Oct 13 - Jean Litle

Oct 16 - Minto Clifford

Oct 16 - Montgomery Village (tentative)

Oct 17 - Taylor Evans (tentative)

Oct 17 - John Black

Oct 18 - Arthur Public

Oct 18 - St John Arthur

Oct 19 - King George

Oct 20 - John Mcrae

Oct 23 - Elora Public

Oct 23 - Hyland Heights

Oct 24 - William C Winegard

Oct 25 - Willow Road

Oct 26 - St John Guelph

Oct 26 - Island Lake

Oct 27 - St Andrew (tentative)

Oct 30 - Spencer Ave

Oct 30 - St Ignatius

Nov 1 - Victoria Cross

Nov 1 - Westwood

Nov 2 - Rockwood Centennial

Nov 2 - Holy Rosary

Nov 3 - Holy Trinity

Nov 6 - Palmerston Public (tentative)

Nov 6 - Glenbrook

Nov 7 - Waverly Drive

Nov 8 - Erin Public

Nov 9 - Arbour Vista

Nov 10 - St Joseph Fergus

Nov 10 - Parkinson Public (tentative)

Nov 14 - Princess Margaret

Nov 14 - St Francis

Nov 15 - Westminster Woods

Nov 15 - Community Christian (tentative)

Nov 15 - Centre Peel

Nov 16 - JD Hogarth

Nov 16 - Credit Meadows (tentative)

Nov 17 - Ken Danby

Nov 20 - Aberfoyle (tentative)

Nov 21 - Mono Amaranth (tentative)

Nov 21 - Mitchell Woods

Nov 22 - Arthur Christian

Nov 22 - Cornerstone

Nov 23 - St Benedict

Nov 23 - Rickson Ridge

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Please review the following FAQs if you have questions about school vaccinations. If your question is not answered here, you can call 1-800-265-7293 ext. 7006.

What can I do to help my child who is anxious or fearful of needles?

Visit the Improving the vaccination experience for your child webpage for helpful resources.

What vaccines will be provided and when?

Public Health Nurses will be providing the following three immunizations at elementary schools in the fall and then again in the spring to all grade 7 students. The in-school clinic dates schedule can be found above.

Will students receive all three vaccines in one visit?

Yes, one dose of each of the three vaccines will be offered at the first visit in the fall. MenC-ACYW-135 only requires one dose so when public health returns to the school in the spring, your child will only require a second shot of two vaccines (Hep B and HPV). MenC-ACYW-135 will be offered in the spring for those that missed it in the fall.

Is it safe to receive more than one vaccine at a time?

Yes. Your child’s immune system can easily handle many vaccines at once. Receiving multiple vaccines is safe, convenient, and ensures the best protection for your child at the earliest age possible.

Can my child get the school vaccinations if they were just vaccinated for COVID-19?

Yes. On September 28, 2021, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) updated its recommendations on the co-administration of COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines. Based on NACI’s review of the effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, NACI recommends that non-COVID-19 vaccines may be given on the same day, or at any time before or after the COVID-19 vaccine.

Are all three vaccines in one needle?

No, they are all separate vaccinations and each requires separate consent (see the online consent form). Both arms will be used so it is best to wear a shirt with easy access to the upper arm.

What are the side effects?

Common side effects are redness, tenderness and swelling at the injection site on the arm. Some children experience a headache, fever, and fatigue.

How can I check or update my child’s vaccination record?

Please visit immunizewdg.ca to view the record online. You can also contact our vaccine records department at 1-800-265-7293 ext. 7006 or email vaccine.records@wdgpublichealth.ca. More information can be found at our School and Child Care Immunizations page.

My child already started these vaccinations. Can they complete them at school?

Yes. Please complete the online consent form and indicate on the form the dates of the previous doses. A public health nurse will ensure the timing is correct prior to administering their next dose.

My child is learning remotely. How can they get their immunizations?

You may contact your primary care provider or make an appointment at public health by calling 1-800-265-7293 ext. 7006.

My child started these vaccines a long time ago and now they are off schedule. Do they need to restart the series?

No. As per the Canadian Immunization Guide a vaccine series does not need to be restarted regardless of the time between doses. The nurse will simply complete the missing dose(s) at the school and your child will be up to date.

Will the COVID-19 vaccine be offered at the school clinics?

No. Please visit wdgpublichealth.ca/drop-ins for locations of COVID-19 vaccination clinics. Anyone age 6 months and older is eligible for COVID-19 vaccine.

My child is in high school now and missed these vaccinations. Are they still eligible?

Yes, if your child missed these vaccines in grade 7 they are eligible to catch up until the end of grade 12. You may contact your primary care provider or make an appointment at public health by calling 1-800-265-7293 ext. 7006.

Are these vaccines required for school attendance?

Meningococcal ACYW-135 is required for school attendance under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA). Hep B and HPV are strongly recommended but not required. Eligibility for these vaccines to be received free of charge is limited. Visit School and Child Care Immunizations for more information.

Do I need to submit the consent form if my child already received these vaccines or has an appointment to receive them elsewhere?

Yes. Please submit the online consent form and indicate ‘NO’ in the vaccine consent boxes. Add a note as to why you are not receiving these vaccines at school. It is very helpful for the nurses on clinic day to have completed consent forms for all students.

How can my child catch up if they miss the in-school clinic?

 You may contact your primary care provider or make an appointment at public health by calling 1-800-265-7293 ext. 7006. You can also wait until the spring school clinics to start their vaccine series.

What should I do if my child has received the Hep B vaccine?

If they completed a full series of Hepatitis B vaccine or Twinrix, they do not need to repeat Hepatitis B at school. Fill out an online consent form with the dates of the vaccines and indicate ‘NO’ in the consent box for Hep B vaccine. If they have not received the full series, a nurse will reach out and advise if the vaccine is needed.

My child got the Men-C vaccine, do they need the MenC-ACYW-135 vaccine?

Yes, they do need a dose of MenC-ACYW-135. Men-C only covers one strain of meningitis that is most commonly seen in younger children (the C strain). Men-C-ACYW-135 covers for the C strain again but it also covers an additional three other strains A, Y and W-135, which your child has not been protected against yet.

My child got the MenC-ACYW-135 vaccine in the past, do they need it again?

As per the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) only one valid dose of MenC-ACYW-135 after age one is required for school attendance. However, your child is still eligible for a publicly funded dose of MenC-ACYW-135 in grade 7. Antibodies can wane so receiving another dose is optional. For more information on a second dose please call our Call Centre at 1-800-265-7293 ext. 7006.

How can I exempt my child from vaccinations?

Vaccines required for school attendance under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) will need a valid religious or conscientious exemption form completed. Visit Immunization  Exemptions for Children in School and Child Care for more information. 

Please submit the online consent form and indicate “NO” in the consent boxes and add a note to advise you are in the process of exemption.

What if my child cannot receive the vaccines for medical reasons?

Visit Immunization Exemptions for Children in School and Child Care for instructions on medical exemptions and to download a form to be completed by your primary care provider. Please submit an online consent form and indicate “NO” in the consent boxes and add a note to advise you are in the process of medical exemption.

Can I make an appointment at public health for these vaccines?

Yes. You can make an appointment at public health by calling 1-800-265-7293 ext. 7006.

Will my child be suspended from school if they do not get vaccinated?

Students who do not have complete immunization records can be suspended from school under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA). Please ensure that the mandatory vaccines are up to date and reported to Public Health as soon as possible. More information about required immunizations can be found at School and Child Care Immunizations.

Can parents be with their child during vaccination?

It is difficult to know when your child’s class will be called down to the school clinic. Timing of vaccination varies considerably at each school. If you would prefer to attend the appointment with your child, you can book an appointment with your primary care provider or at a Public Health by calling 1-800-265-7293 ext 7006.