Are your child’s vaccinations up-to-date? If not, book an appointment with your health care provider or at Public Health. To book an appointment at a Public Health office, call 1-800-265-7293 and press 0 to speak with a receptionist.
To find out what vaccines your child requires for school, see the Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule for Ontario (PDF, 8 pages, 636 KB), talk to your healthcare provider or call 1-800-265-7293 ext. 4746 to speak with a Public Health Nurse.
Visit School Vaccination Clinics for a list of vaccination clinics in high schools and elementary schools (held occasionally).
Report your child’s vaccinations
It is a parent’s/guardian’s responsibility to report their child’s vaccinations to Public Health in order to attend a licensed childcare facility or school. You can report your child’s vaccines in one of the following ways:
Online: The new Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) tool allows you to report and view your immunization record.
Email: vaccine.records@wdgpublichealth.ca
Phone: 1-800-265-7293 ext. 4396
Mail: Vaccine Records
160 Chancellors Way
Guelph, Ontario N1G 0E1
For those who need help translating their records please contact Immigration services for the translation of immunization records into English.
Requirements for school
In Ontario, the Immunization of School Pupils Act requires that all children attending schools be fully immunized or have a valid exemption on file for the following:
- Tetanus
- Diphtheria
- Polio
- Measles
- Mumps
- Rubella (German measles)
- Meningococcal disease (meningitis)
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Varicella (chickenpox) – for children born on or after January 1, 2010.
- If your child has had chickenpox infection, a medical exemption form completed by your health care provider is required. See exemption for school aged children below.
Get fact sheets on these diseases and vaccines.
Grade 7 Immunization Program
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health provides free vaccinations to Grade 7 students in the schools. Your child will get a consent form from school in September for the following three vaccines:
- Meningococcal
- Hepatitis B
- Human Papillomavirus
If you require a consent form, please contact a Public Health Nurse at 1-800-265-7293 ext. 4746. See school vaccination clinics for dates.
High School Immunization program
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph provides free vaccinations to high school students that are overdue for mandatory vaccinations in the schools. See school vaccination clinics for dates.
During high school, most teens are due for a booster dose of tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis (Tdap vaccine). Students can also receive this vaccination at their health care provider and report it to Public Health.
Exemptions for school aged children
If you are choosing not to immunize your school-aged child for religious or conscientious reasons, you will need to:
- Attend an Immunization Education Session at a Public Health office and receive a certificate.
- Complete a notarized Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief Form.
- Submit completed documents to Public Health and ensure you keep a copy of both for your records.
If your child cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, you will need to:
- Have your health care provider complete and sign the Statement of Medical Exemption form.
- Submit completed form to Public Health and ensure you keep a copy for your records.
More exemption information can be found in the School Immunization Exemption Information document (PDF, 6 pages, 185 KB).
Requirements for children in licensed child care centres
The Child Care and Early Years Act requires that students have up-to-date vaccines or a valid exemption for the following:
- Tetanus
- Diphtheria
- Polio
- Measles
- Mumps
- Rubella (German measles)
- Meningococcal disease (meningitis)
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Varicella (chickenpox) – for children born on or after January 1, 2010.
- If your child has had chickenpox infection, a medical exemption form completed by your health care provider is required. See exemption for school aged children below.
The following vaccines are strongly encouraged: pneumococcal, rotavirus and annual influenza.
See recommended Immunization Schedule for Children from Infancy to 6 years.
Exemptions for children in licensed child care centres
If you are choosing not to immunize your child for religious or conscientious reasons, you will need to complete a notarized Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief for Child Form and submit to your child care centre and Public Health. Please note this form will expire when your child begins school.
If your child cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons, have your health care provider complete the Statement of Medical Exemption and submit the completed form to Public Health.
More exemption information can be found in the Daycare Immunization Exemption Information document (PDF, 5 pages, 140 KB).
