Public Health Sudbury & Districts is resuming routine immunization services

Public Health Sudbury & Districts is resuming publicly funded immunization services in a phased approach. This follows the agency’s pause on many of these services due to the two-year pandemic response. Public Health is now ramping up to provide this important service as part of Public Health’s recovery efforts.

Ensuring children and youth are up to date with their vaccinations is essential in preventing the resurgence of communicable diseases in our community (for example, pertussis and measles) for which vaccination is safe and effective.

Public Health estimates that roughly 20 000 area children and youth are overdue for routine childhood immunizations across the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts.

Phase 1: Prioritizing overdue children and adults

Starting the week of March 7, 2022, Public Health will begin a phased resumption of publicly funded immunization services, including the school vaccination program. Vaccination opportunities will be offered for children and youth who are overdue for publicly funded vaccines, as well as adults who meet certain criteria.

The first phase will prioritize children who are overdue for routine vaccines, for example, those required to attend school. In addition, this phase will offer vaccinations to people who are at higher risk of complications due to illness, such as individuals experiencing renal failure or transplant recipients, and people with other qualifying conditions or who meet certain eligibility criteria (PDF, Ontario Government).

Vaccination clinics

Catch-up clinics for all children (by appointment only)

Public Health Sudbury & Districts is offering clinics for children from 0 to 18 years of age who are overdue for routine vaccines. Appointments can be scheduled at one of the following locations:

• Main office, 1300 Paris St., Sudbury (Wednesday and Thursday afternoons)
• Elm Place office, 10 Elm St., Sudbury (Fridays)

High-risk clinics (by appointment only)

Public Health Sudbury & Districts is offering clinics to people who are at higher risk of complications due to illness, such as individuals experiencing renal failure or transplant recipients, and people with other qualifying conditions or who meet certain eligibility criteria (PDF, Ontario Government). Appointments can be scheduled at the following location:

• Main office, 1300 Paris St., Sudbury (Monday and Tuesday afternoons)

Grade 7 and 8 clinics

In April, May, and June, Public Health Sudbury & Districts will be providing hepatitis B, HPV, and meningococcal vaccines to Grade 7 and 8 students who missed these vaccinations in 2020 to 2021. In the coming weeks, school clinics will be scheduled with each school including those in district offices. Parent or guardian consent is required for school-based clinics; however, consent forms signed previously for Grade 7 and 8 students remain valid. No appointment is needed for students receiving vaccinations in school.

Community catch-up clinics (by appointment only)

Public Health Sudbury & Districts is offering community clinics for children in kindergarten to Grade 12 who are overdue for routine vaccines required to attend school, including Grade 7 vaccines for students now in Grade 9 and 10. Clinics are being planned in select community vaccination clinic locations to start in April. Clinic locations will be announced as details are confirmed.

As details are confirmed, additional information will be provided regarding vaccination opportunities offered by Public Health throughout the Sudbury and Manitoulin districts.

For more information about immunizations and services offered by Public Health Sudbury & Districts, visit www.phsd.ca. If you have questions about vaccines or would like to schedule an appointment, please call 705.522.9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200). You may also choose to contact your health care provider to discuss and receive vaccinations.

Background: School immunization information FAQ

Which vaccines are required for school attendance?

Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), students in Ontario must be immunized against:

• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Polio
• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella
• Meningitis (meningococcal disease)
• Whooping cough (pertussis)
• Chickenpox (varicella)—required for children born in 2010 or later

What if my child received vaccines by their health care provider?

The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires parents and guardians of school-aged children to report their child’s vaccination to their local public health unit. Health care providers are not required to report immunizations to Public Health, so it is very important parents ensure their child’s record in up to date with Public Health. Public Health offers many convenient options to report immunizations, including online reporting.

Options to update your vaccination record:

1. Online reporting
   

Find your local public health unit

1. • To view and submit your immunization record online using Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) please visit your local public health unit’s website. Find your public health unit (Government of Ontario).

Residents of Greater Sudbury and the districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin

1. • Sudbury and districts, ICON is a web-based service provided by the Ministry of Health that allows residents of Greater Sudbury and the districts of Sudbury and Manitoulin to submit immunization information. You can also access your immunization record using a unique Ontario Immunization Identification (OIID) and a Personal Identification Number (PIN). Report or access your immunization information.
2. Bring a copy of the vaccination record to any Public Health Sudbury & Districts office during regular business hours.
3. Call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705.522.9200, ext. 458 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200).
4. Fax a copy of the vaccination record to 705.677.9616 (confidential fax).
5. Mail a copy of the vaccination record to:

Public Health Sudbury & Districts
Attention: Health Protection Division
1300 Paris Street
Sudbury, ON  P3E 3A3

What if I don’t want my child to be vaccinated?

If you do not want your child vaccinated against the above diseases, exemptions for immunizations may be granted for:

• Religious or conscience reasons
• Medical reasons

Parents and legal guardians of school age children (not children attending day cares) must also complete an educational session on immunization at one of the Public Health’s offices (except the Elm Place location).

At this time, Public Health Sudbury & Districts has not resumed the educational session on immunization. This service will resume at a later date.

Will Public Health be suspending my child from school if they are overdue for vaccines?

No. Public Health Sudbury & Districts has decided to pause suspensions for the 2021/2022 school year. We recognize significant backlog of immunizations the pandemic has created, as well as the impacts the pandemic has had on both parents and children.

What’s next?

Public Health is asking all parents and guardians for their help in ensuring that their child’s immunizations are up-to-date and to book an appointment.