Immunizations in Schools
Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, children must be immunized in order to go to school in Ontario. If students are not immunized for personal or medical reasons, a legal immunization exemption is required.
Immunization requirements
We will send you a notice for one of the following reasons:
- We have not received your child's immunization record. Your health care provider's office does not automatically report vaccines to us, that they have given to your child.
- We have not received your child’s legal immunization exemption
- Your child has not received one or more of the following vaccines:
- Diphtheria
- Measles
- Meningococcal disease
- Mumps
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Polio
- Rubella
- Tetanus
- Varicella (chickenpox) for children born after 2009
If there is an outbreak, students who are not protected against the infection will have to stay home from school until the outbreak is over or until they are immunized.
School suspensions for immunizations
Your child may be suspended if the immunization is not completed by the date on the notice. They will be able to return to school when we have received their up-to-date immunization record or legal exemption.
Contact Us
Southwestern Public Health (8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday)
St. Thomas Site
(Administrative office)
1230 Talbot Street
St. Thomas, ON N5P 1G9
Woodstock Site
410 Buller Street
Woodstock, ON N4S 4N2
Call us toll free: 1-800-922-0096
Email us
Work with Us
Southwestern Public Health (SWPH) values our people! We pride ourselves on our positive and flexible work environment.