Immunization at Every Age

Vaccines help protect you and your loved ones from serious diseases at all stages of life. Getting your child vaccinated is especially important. You can book vaccines with your healthcare provider or visit the health unit. If your health care provider gives your child a vaccine, remember to report your immunization records. This helps keep their records up to date.

What is Ontario’s routine immunization schedule?

View the Ontario’s routine immunization schedule to learn:

• Which vaccines are given in Ontario

• What ages your child should receive them

• The diseases these vaccines prevent

Vaccinating on schedule helps protect children against serious and life-threatening illnesses.

Why does my child need so many shots?

Vaccines help your child’s body fight off serious diseases. Over the years, the number of vaccines has gone up to protect against more illnesses:

• Kids born before 1994 were protected from 8 diseases

• Kids born before 1985 were protected from 7 diseases

• Today, children in Ontario can be protected from 13 diseases by the time they are 15 months old

Each vaccine your child gets helps keep them safe, strong, and healthy.

Why does my child need more than one dose of the same vaccine?

Some vaccines need more than one dose to fully protect your child. Each dose helps build stronger immunity. Sometimes, your child may also need a booster shot. Boosters remind the body how to fight the disease and help keep immunity strong over time. Getting all the doses and boosters makes sure your child stays protected from serious illnesses.

How can you make immunization a better experience?

Getting a vaccine can sometimes cause stress or anxiety, especially for children. Fortunately, there are ways to make the process easier for everyone. Immunize Canada offers helpful tips on:

• What you can do before and during the appointment

• What you can give to ease discomfort

• How you can act to help reduce pain and anxiety

Explore these tips for every age group:

• Pain management during immunization for children under 3

• Pain management during immunization for kids and adolescents

• Pain management during immunization for adults

Taking small steps to reduce stress can make immunizations a more positive experience for you and your family.

Why does public health review your child's immunization record?

Public health makes sure your child’s vaccines are up to date to help protect everyone at school and in licensed child care. This is required by Ontario’s:

• Child Care and Early Years Act

• Immunization of School Pupils Act

Why is this important?

• Staying on track: If your child is behind on their vaccines, you will get a notice from a Public Health Nurse with instructions on what to do.

• Managing outbreaks: If there is an outbreak of a disease, public health uses immunization records to know who may be at risk. Children who don’t have proof of their vaccines may have to stay home from school or child care until it’s safe to return.

Updating your child’s immunization record helps keep them healthy and protects their classmates and community.

Why did I get a notice about my child’s immunizations?

In Ontario, children need to be vaccinated or have an exemption to attend school or licensed child care. You received a notice because:

• We don’t have your child’s immunization record

• Your child may have missed one or more required vaccines

Remember: Health care providers don’t automatically send vaccine records to public health. If your child has already received their vaccines, you may just need to report them to us.

Keeping your child’s vaccines up to date helps protect their health and ensures they can stay in school or child care without any issues.

What vaccines are required to attend child care in Oxford, Elgin, and St. Thomas?

To attend licensed child care in Oxford, Elgin, and St. Thomas, children must have the following immunizations. This is the same standard across Ontario:

• Diphtheria

• Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib)

• Measles

• Meningococcal disease

• Mumps

• Pneumococcal disease

• Polio

• Rubella

• Tetanus

• Varicella (chickenpox) – if your child has not already had the disease.

What should you do if your child’s immunizations are not up to date?

If you’ve received a notice, follow these steps to fix it:

1. Check your child’s immunization record

Your child may have already received the vaccines, but the health unit may not have the record. Once you confirm the vaccines, report the record to us:

• Online

• In person

• By mail

2. Get the required vaccines

If your child hasn’t received the needed vaccines:

• Take the notice to your health care provider and get your child vaccinated.

• After the appointment, report the updated record to the health unit.

No health care provider? Call us at 1-800-922-0096 — we may be able to give your child the vaccines.

3. Submit exemption information (if needed)

If you choose not to vaccinate your child for medical, religious, or personal reasons, make sure you provide the proper exemption forms to the health unit.

What if you choose not to vaccinate your child?

Vaccines are a safe and effective way to protect children from serious diseases. But if you decide not to vaccinate your child for medical, religious, or personal reasons, you’ll need to follow Ontario’s exemption process.

Here’s what to do:

1. Learn about exemptions: Find out what documents are needed to exempt your child from vaccines.

2. Submit the forms: Give the required exemption forms to SWPH.

Important to know:
If there is an outbreak of a disease, children without proof of immunization may need to stay home from school or child care until it’s safe to return. This helps stop the illness from spreading.

What are the immunization recommendations for adults?

You never outgrow the need for vaccines. Immunization protects you from serious diseases and helps keep those around you safe. Common vaccines recommended for adults include:

• Influenza (flu) – yearly to protect against seasonal flu

• Pertussis (whooping cough) – especially important if you’re around infants

• Pneumococcal – to prevent pneumonia and related illnesses

• Tetanus – every 10 years, or sooner if you have an injury

• Shingles – for adults aged 50+ to protect against painful outbreaks

You may need additional vaccines depending on:

• Your health conditions

• Your job or workplace requirements

• Travel plans to certain countries

• Outbreaks or risks in your community

Speak with your health care provider about any additional vaccines you may need.