Immunization Requirements for School

Have you received a letter from Ottawa Public Health?

In Ontario, health care providers do not automatically report immunizations to their local public health agency. Parents and guardians are responsible for reporting their child's immunizations to Ottawa Public Health (OPH) to keep records up to date as per the Immunization of School Pupils Act . If choosing not to immunize, a medical or non-medical exemption needs to be completed.

OPH's New Online Submission Form Where can my child get vaccinated?

Under the "Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA)", children attending school in Ontario are required to be vaccinated against:

We understand that this process can be stressful, and we are here to help. If you received a letter from Ottawa Public Health and need assistance, please call 613-580-6744 and listen to the menu options carefully.

Why did I receive a Notice of Incomplete Immunization Record from OPH?

  • Your child’s immunizations were not reported to OPH.
  • Your child is missing one or more required doses/vaccines to meet Ontario’s immunization requirements for school attendance.
  • OPH has not received a Ministry approved standardized medical or non-medical exemption form for your child to be exempted from receiving immunizations.

Why did I receive a Suspension Order from OPH?

  • OPH received your update after the “Update By Date” provided on the first notice letter mailed. A Suspension Order is automatically generated if an update is not received by the deadline.

Immunization updates received online or by fax may take 5-10 business days to be processed. Once information has been processed, you will receive an email or automated voice message confirming if your child’s record is up to date or not. If you received confirmation that your child’s record is up to date, please disregard the Suspension Order you received. If you have not received confirmation, contact OPH at 613-580-6744 to review what is required to cancel the suspension.

What do I need to do?

  • Review your child’s immunization record. Compare the immunization record OPH has on file for your child (shown in your Notice), with your immunization records at home and with your child’s health care provider. Only vaccines required for attending a school are shown in your Notice.
  • If your child has received their vaccines, update your child’s immunization record with Ottawa Public Health.
  • If your child has not received their vaccines, please have your child receive their vaccines through their healthcare provider, a walk-in clinic or through one of the Ottawa Public Health immunization clinics. If your child has a healthcare provider but cannot get an appointment before the suspension start date, do not cancel the appointment. Instead, you can contact OPH at 613-580-6744 and notify us of the appointment details to prevent the suspension.  As soon as the missing vaccines(s) are received you will need to update the file with OPH to avoid future suspension.
  • If you do not have copies of your child’s immunization record, contact your health care provider to obtain a copy.
  • New to Canada or Ontario?  If your child is attending a school in Ottawa, we recommend that you contact your health care provider or OPH to assess your child's immunization record. This will ensure that your child's immunizations are up to date according to the  Ontario’s Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule  that they are fully protected against vaccine preventable diseases.

Listen to Dr. Trevor and Nurse Katie as they chat about school immunization surveillance

Additional information

For dates when letters will be mailed for children with incomplete immunization records, select the school board below that applies to your child. 

(insert school boards if applicable)

Medical Exemption

Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), a Statement of Medical Exemption is accepted. A parent/guardian must complete a standardized ministry approved exemption form.

A medical exemption can be submitted if a child attending a school in Ottawa has a medical condition that prevents them from receiving the vaccine or there is evidence of immunity to the disease making further immunization unnecessary.

In the event of an outbreak related to a vaccine preventable disease, any child with certain medical exemptions on file will be excluded from attending school until the risk related to the outbreak has ended.

  • Print the Statement of Medical Exemption, Immunization School Pupils Act.
  • Have your child’s health care provider complete the form (you may be charged a fee).
  • Send a copy of the completed exemption form to OPH by:
    • Submit electronically via webform
    • Mail: Immunization Unit, Mail Code 26-42, 100 Constellation Dr., Ottawa ON, K2G 6J8 
    • Fax: 613-580-9660
  • Keep the original for your own records. 
  • Please note: We do not accept in-person drop-offs at any OPH location
  • If you have any questions about the medical exemption process, you may call OPH and speak to a nurse at 613-580-6744. 

Non-medical Exemption

Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), parent(s)/guardian(s) who choose to exempt their child from required immunizations for non-medical reasons, must complete the following steps:

STEP 1: Watch the online Vaccine Education Video by Ontario’s Ministry of Health.

  • The video is 28 minutes long. The video has closed captioning/subtitles.
  • The Vaccine Education Video covers:
    • Basic information about immunization
    • Vaccine safety
    • Immunization and community health
    • Immunization law in Ontario

STEP 2: Complete the electronic Attestation Form

This form is to certify that you have watched the entire “Vaccine Education Video”, without fast-forwarding or skipping any parts. You must complete an attestation form before you can receive an Education Session Certificate.

If you complete the attestation form and do not have additional questions that you wish to speak to a nurse about, you will be able to receive the completed certificate via e-mail or mail to your home address. Certificates will be sent within 10 business days from the date of completion. This certificate may be needed to get your non-medical exemption form witnessed and signed. Keep the copy for your records, you will not need to submit it as Ottawa Public Health will automatically upload a copy into your child’s file.

The person who completes the attestation must be the same person who completes the affidavit.

STEP 3: Fill out the Statement of Conscience and Religious Belief – Immunization of School Pupils Act form and return it to Ottawa Public Health

Have the affidavit signed by a Commissioner of Oath. Please note, there may be a fee required for this service and your Education Certificate may need to be provided. You may visit one of the City of Ottawa Service Centre locations for this service. 

Keep the original form and send the completed copy to Ottawa Public Health by one of the following: 

  • Submit electronically via webform
  • Fax: 613-580-9660
  • Mail: Ottawa Public Health Immunization Unit, Mail code: 26-42, 100 Constellation Drive, Ottawa, ON  K2G 6J8
  • Please note: We do not accept in-person drop-offs at any OPH location

In the event of an outbreak related to a vaccine preventable disease, any child with a conscience or religious belief exemption on file will be excluded from attending school until the risk related to the outbreak has ended.

All the steps above must be completed before Ottawa Public Health can process the student’s non-medical vaccine exemptions. If there are any questions about the documents submitted, OPH will follow-up with you directly. 

If you have any questions about the non-medical exemption process, you may call OPH and speak to a nurse at 613-580-6744. 

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