Next steps in annual assessment of student immunization records
To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners
Date: February 2, 2026
From: Dr. Laura Bourns, Deputy Medical Officer of Health
Subject: Next steps in annual assessment of student immunization records
Dear Colleagues,
Late October, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) shared with you that we had begun our annual process of assessing students’ immunization records for compliance with the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) targeting students born in 2008 and 2018 (7- and 17-year olds).
All students with incomplete immunization records were issued their first notice, Notice of Incomplete Immunization Record, in late October through early December. In mid-December, OPH began issuing second notices, Suspension Order, to students whose immunization record remains out of date. The suspension order gives families an additional month to provide an update before the suspension takes effect. The suspension can last up to a period of 20 school days if no action is taken.
Important Dates:
| SCHOOL TYPE AND BOARD NAME | FIRST NOTICE MAIL DATE | SUSPENSION ORDER MAIL DATE | SUSPENSION START DATE |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO) and Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE) Elementary Schools |
Oct 22 |
Dec 10 |
Jan 12 |
|
Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) Elementary Schools |
Oct 29 |
Dec 17 |
Jan 19 |
|
Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) Elementary Schools |
Nov 5 |
Jan 7 |
Feb 9 |
|
Conseil des écoles publiques de l’Est de l’Ontario (CEPEO) and Conseil des écoles catholiques du Centre-Est (CECCE) Secondary Schools |
Nov 10 |
Jan 14 |
Feb 17 |
|
Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) Secondary Schools |
Nov 19 |
Jan 21 |
Feb 23 |
|
Ottawa Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) Secondary Schools |
Nov 26 |
Jan 28 |
Mar 2 |
|
Private Schools |
Dec 3 |
Feb 4 |
Mar 9 |
Potential Impacts
As suspension orders are sent to parents, you may receive urgent requests for vaccination services in your practice.
Parents may contact you to:
- Request information on their child’s vaccination records
- Book an appointment for their child to receive outstanding vaccinations
Patients who can only get an immunization appointment after the suspension start date can be instructed to call OPH at 613-580-6744 and provide the appointment details to avoid suspension.
Please remind parents to report to Ottawa Public Health every time their child is immunized. Parents can visit ParentingInOttawa.ca/Immunization for more information on reporting vaccines.
Thank you for your continued support in ensuring your patients’ immunizations are up to date, which in turn protects residents of Ottawa against infectious diseases.