Where to Get Children or Youth Vaccinated

In Ontario, routine vaccines are usually given at your health care provider’s office such as at your family doctor’s or nurse practitioner’s office. Routine vaccines can also be given at some walk-in clinics. If your child requires routine vaccine(s), please contact their health care provider. 

If you are currently looking for a health care provider please register with Health Care Connect, and a nurse will help you find a family doctor or nurse practitioner who is accepting new patients in our community. 

Ottawa Public Health offers grade 7 vaccination clinics. It is important to read the parent memo below for more detailed information about these clinics. Please also fill out the consent form below and ensure your youth brings it to school with them. Be sure to discuss the vaccines your youth needs with them ahead of time. For more information see the memo to parents, also found below.

School Vaccine Consent Form

If today is your child's school clinic and they did not bring in their completed School Vaccine Consent Form

You can print and complete the School Vaccine Consent Form and send in with the student on the next clinic date (Clinic Dates are listed below). The student can then present themselves to the clinic with the completed form to receive the grade 7 vaccines.  

Memo to Parents (pdf - 142 KB) English

The following vaccines are offered at the grade 7 vaccination clinics:

Grade 7 Vaccination Clinics

Grade 7 Vaccination Clinics

Grade 7 Vaccination Clinics

Grade 7 Vaccination Clinics

Grade 7 Vaccination Clinics

The student did not have a signed consent form for the grade 7 vaccines; you can find information on the school vaccines and school vaccine consent forms this webpage. The Consent Form must be signed by legal guardian, any other signature is not accepted. 

Ottawa Public Health nurses ask students at every clinic visit how they are feeling. If the student tells us they are not feeling well or have symptoms (ie. fever), their immunization will be delayed until next clinic date.

If you child has not received all their Grade 7 school vaccines and there are no future dates at your child’s school, in their grade 7 year, you can schedule an appointment at one of our Community Vaccination Clinics or Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs for their immunizations. 

The student did not want to receive their vaccine today; our nurses in clinic try to help with any fear or discomfort in the immunization process but sometimes we are unsuccessful. You can help prepare your child for their next vaccine visit; school clinic's happen in the fall and again in the spring for grade 7’s; other options for receiving immunizations in a different environment include our Community Vaccination Clinics, Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs or by special request through your regular health care provider. 

Ottawa Public Health was either provided a record of immunization on the School Vaccine Consent Form, or has a record previously submitted to us, that shows the student is not due for their vaccination as it may be too close to their last vaccine dose.

School Vaccination Clinic Nurses will write a date on the notice of when the next vaccine dose is due. 

Hepatitis B vaccines are given 4 to 6 months apart depending on the vaccine for grade 7’s and Human Papillomavirus vaccines are given 24 weeks apart for grade 7’s. Meningococcal vaccine requires a minimum 4 weeks from a previous dose of any of the vaccines containing the vaccine components or 6 months from a dose of a polysaccharide (short acting) type of the Meningococcal vaccine. 

Our School Vaccination Clinic Lead Nurse would have contacted you and left a voicemail message to discuss the information we have on file. Please review messages and/or the notice for a written call back number.

Ottawa Public Health was either provided a record of immunization on the School Vaccine Consent Form, or has a record previously submitted to us, that shows the student has a history of these immunizations and no other doses are needed. This(ese) vaccine(s) were not given in the clinic. To view immunization records on file with Ottawa Public Health please visit our page Updating and Retrieving Immunizations.

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is now offering routine immunization services for children and youth who live in Ottawa and who are facing barriers in getting their routine immunizations in the community. Families are now able to book routine vaccine appointments using the Kids Come First booking page. 

Please note, this booking page includes all clinics offering routine vaccines through the Kids Come First- Vaccinate and Up-to-Date campaign and not just those operated by Ottawa Public Health.

Ottawa Public Health is now offering routine vaccination services for children and youth who live in Ottawa and who are facing barriers getting their routine vaccines in the community.

NEW: You can also call 613-580-6744 and speak with a public health nurse if you have questions about your child’s vaccination needs or vaccination record. Calls will be answered Monday to Friday from 9:00 am to 12 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. 

For routine childhood vaccines, you are eligible to drop-in if your child identifies with one or more of the following criteria:

• your child is a newcomer to Canada;
• your child does not have an Ontario Health Card (OHIP);
• your child does not have a primary health care provider, such as a family doctor or nurse practitioner;
• your child is currently unable to access routine vaccines through their health care provider.

For school-based vaccines, you are eligible to drop-in if your youth identifies with one or more of the following criteria:

• Your youth in grade 7 was unable to attend or receive school-based vaccines at their school clinic
• Your youth in grades 8 to 12 has not completed their school-based vaccine series normally administered at school in grade 7 (hepatitis B, human papillomavirus (HPV) and meningococcal conjugate vaccine)

School-based vaccines offered include:

• School-based vaccine series for the meningococcal (pdf - 184 KB), human papillomavirus (pdf - 205 KB) and hepatitis B vaccines (pdf - 257 KB) (normally given in grades 7 and 8)

Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs

Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health offers Routine Childhood vaccines and COVID-19 vaccines

Breastfeed

• Breastfeed your baby five minutes before the injection, as well as during and after vaccinations, to reduce pain and to provide comfort.

Breastfeed to minimize vaccination pain - two months - YouTube

Breastfeed to minimize vaccination pain – six months - YouTube

Hold comfortably

• Hold the baby close to your body, in a front-to-front position with both legs exposed. This reassuring close contact can help to reduce pain. 

Offer sugar water

• For babies 12 months of age or less, who are not breastfed, give a few drops of sugar solution (on the tip of the infant's tongue) one minute before the injection. Repeat administration of a few drops of sugar solution just before the injection. The sweet solution provides a few minutes of pain relief during vaccination.
• Purchase a pre-mixed sugar solution at a pharmacy or prepare one at home by mixing 5 mL (one teaspoon) sugar with 10 mL (two teaspoons) water. Do not use honey.
• Never use sugar water at home to calm a fussy or crying baby, as this can lead to tooth decay.
• Feed your baby or give sips of water to clean the baby's mouth after vaccination.

Other option

• Talk to your health care provider or local pharmacist about creams such as EMLA® or Ametop® that can help numb the skin. They are available without a prescription.

Prepare your child ahead of time

• Read stories about what happens when you visit the doctor.
• Offer an honest explanation about what to expect. Prepare young children (under 4 years of age) just before the injection. Prepare older children the day before.
• Describe how vaccination will feel (for example, like a pinch).
• Tell your child what they can do to ease the pain (for example, sit still, breathe deeply, relax the arm).
• Talk to your health care provider or local pharmacist about creams such as EMLA® or Ametop® that can help numb the skin. They are available without a prescription.

Distract your child

• Draw your child's attention away from the needle. This is one of the best ways that you can help your child. 
• Distract your child with a favourite toy or blanket, a book, music, singing, or telling a joke or a story.
• Tell your child to take a deep breath and to blow it out slowly. Blowing bubbles or blowing on a pinwheel can help also. 

Position your child in an upright position

Hold your young child securely in a comforting hug, sitting upright on your lap, facing forward, or facing you (front to front), with the arm exposed. Lying flat on their back during an injection, or being held too tightly, can be scary for children and can increase their fear. Older children can sit alone if they wish, with the arm exposed.

If your child continues to move, ask your healthcare provider about the proper hold technique that is safest for your child.

Getting a vaccine might be scary for some youth. Try some of these helpful tips; they may be your best shot to help your youth overcome their fear.

Offer helpful distractions such as:

• Talking to your youth
• Having them listen to music with earphones
• Getting them to play games or texting on a cell phone

For older children and youth who are very fearful, think about medications that numb the skin:

• Talk to your health care provider or local pharmacist about creams such as EMLA® or Ametop® that can help numb the skin. They are available without a prescription.
• Ask your health care provider to show you the right locations to apply the cream. Keep in mind that, on some visits, more than one injection may be given. Read the instructions before applying the product. It must be on the skin 30 to 60 minutes before the injection(s). 
• Offering praise and a reward after vaccinations can help children and youth of all ages!