Immunization requirements for school attendance
Advisory Alert
March 24, 2015
*Cette information est seulement disponible en anglais.
Dear Colleagues:
The Sudbury & District Health Unit (SDHU) is currently reviewing student immunization records and contacting parents of children whose records indicate that they are not fully immunized. The following guidance is provided in response to recent questions we have received related to vaccine selection and administration.
Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires that children and adolescents attending licensed daycare, primary or secondary school be appropriately immunized against designated diseases, unless they have a valid exemption.
Parents might contact your office for immunization records or for vaccination. Please review any immunization records you may have for the student prior to vaccinating to determine the student’s eligibility for vaccination.
Guidance for immunizing eligible students:
- Adolescents requiring vaccination against diphtheria, pertussis and/or tetanus should receive a single dose of Adacel®/Boostrix® vaccine.
- Adolescents born between 1997 and 2002 require vaccination with Menactra® vaccine, which protects against meningococcal disease serogroups A/C/Y/W-135.
- Children born on/after September 1, 2004, require vaccination with Menjugate® vaccine, which protects against meningococcal conjugate serogroup C. This vaccine is to be given after the age of 1 year. Infants ˂ 1year who have received a previous dose(s) will require an additional dose after 1 year of age.
Publicly funded vaccines are available through your normal vaccine ordering processes.
Health care providers and parents or guardians are reminded to notify the SDHU when any vaccination is administered to a school-aged child so that their immunization record can be updated.
All immunization requirements for daycare and school attendance align with Ontario’s publicly funded immunization schedule. Please see Ontario’s publicly funded immunization schedule to verify that your clients have received all necessary immunizations.
This item was last modified on September 9, 2016