Along with other health units across Ontario, Peterborough Public Health will once again be enforcing the province’s vaccination requirements for elementary and secondary school students effective Wednesday (January 11). After being paused due to the pandemic, routine immunization opportunities resumed in 2022.
Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act requires all students between the ages of 4 and 17 (unless they have a valid exemption) to be appropriately immunized against the following designated diseases according to a defined schedule: diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease, and pertussis (whooping cough). Children born in 2010 or later must also be immunized against varicella (chickenpox). COVID-19 vaccines are not a requirement.
“Immunizations protect children from highly infectious viruses and bacteria that can lead to severe disease,” says Peterborough’s medical officer of health Dr. Thomas Piggott in a media release. “Ensuring that all students are immunized and records are reported to public health will keep children safe in the classroom and prevent or manage potential outbreaks of disease.”
While students who are not up to date with the required immunizations and who do not have exemptions are at risk of suspension from school, the health unit will begin by educating parents and guardians of students who are in Grade 3 and not up to date with their immunizations.
“The goal of our efforts is to support accessing vaccination, and getting our community protected,” Dr Piggott says. “We have availability in our Routine Immunization Clinic to support those who do not have access to a health care provider.”
Immunization records for Peterborough residents can be looked up through the health unit’s page on the province’s Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) web-based tool at pcchu.icon.ehealthontario.ca.
Families can also use the tool to submit their child’s immunizations records to the health unit. A valid Ontario health card is required to access the record of immunization. Parents and guardians may also ask their health care provider to fax immunization records to Peterborough Public Health.
The health unit says families with children who are not up to date with vaccinations should book an appointment with a health care provider to receive a vaccine. Residents who do not have a local health care provider can book an appointment at Peterborough Public Health’s routine immunization clinic by calling 705-743-1000 ext. 331.
For more information about the Immunization of Schools Pupils Act, routine immunizations, and immunization records, visit peterboroughpublichealth.ca/clinics-and-classes/immunization-clinics/.
PDF: Ontario’s Immunization Schedule
Ontario's Immunization Schedule
