Immunizations

Immunization reporting options for patients

• Upload your child's immunization records using the school-aged child immunization history reporting e-form. 
• Bring a copy of your immunization record to a KFL&A Public Health office during business hours.
• Call KFL&A Public Health.
• Fax a copy of the immunization record to 613-549-0985 (confidential fax).
• Mail a copy of your records to KFL&A Public Health. 

Immunizations for licensed child care

• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Pertussis
• Polio
• Haemophilus influenzae (type b)
• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella
• Varicella
• Meningococcal disease
• Pneumococcal disease
• Rotavirus (as eligible)

If a parent or guardian chooses to exempt their child from immunization for non-medical reasons, they must complete and have notarized, a Ministry of Education Statement of conscience or religious belief exemption form.  The parent or guardian must provide, one form per child attending a licensed child care centre, the original form to KFL&A Public Health. 

Annual child care centre immunization review

As required by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, each year KFL&A Public Health reviews the immunization records of all children 0 to 4 years who attend a licensed child care centre in the KFL&A area. Parents and guardians of children with incomplete records are provided with letters and given one month to return the required information.

Child care staff and volunteer immunization

According to the Child Care and Early Years Act, before starting employment, staff and volunteers must have a health assessment and be immunized as recommended by the Medical Officer of Health, or provide a valid Child Care and Early Years Act Ministry conscience or religious belief exemption form or a valid Child Care and Early Years Act Ministry medical exemption form. Immunization requirements specific to child care staff and volunteers include:

• Immunization requirements: up-to-date vaccination or evidence of immunity against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella. An annual flu shot and evidence of immunity against chickenpox are recommended.
• TB screening: required for all staff and volunteers who have lived or travelled outside Canada to a country where TB is common or to a First Nations community for more than three months. TB testing is not required for people who have lived in:
• Canada, United States of America, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand, or
• First Nations communities located in Southern Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

Immunizations for school attendance

• Tetanus
• Diphtheria
• Pertussis
• Polio
• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella
• Varicella - If born on or after January 1, 2010
• Meningococcal disease
• Men-C-C: If born on or after September 1, 2004 and under 12 years of age
• Men-C-ACYW-135: If born on or after January 1, 1997 and 12 years of age or older
• Refer adolescents (students in Grade 7 to 12) who require the Meningococcal-C-ACYW-135 immunization (Menactra®) to a KFL&A Public Health immunization clinic.

If a parent or guardian chooses to exempt their child from immunization for non-medical reasons, they will be required to complete an educational module at KFL&A Public Health and complete and have notarized a Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Immunization of School Pupils Act Statement of conscience or religious belief exemption form.  The parent or guardian must provide, one form per child attending school, the original form to KFL&A Public Health. The process to complete the educational module will require 45 minutes to 1 hour of time. The education module addresses the risks and the benefits of immunization, how vaccines work, herd immunity, vaccine safety, immunization schedules, and immunization legislative requirements for school children in Ontario under the ISPA.

Please ensure all patients in your practice are immunized and up-to-date following the recommendations in the Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule for Ontario.

Provide KFL&A Public Health with regular print outs from your Electronic Medical Records (EMR) or reporting forms or immunizations given in your practice or remind parents to report the immunization(s) directly to KFL&A Public Health.

School-based immunization programs

KFL&A Public Health provides free school-based immunization clinics for Grade 7 students for hepatitis B, meningococcal and human papillomavrius (HPV) immunizations. Please encourage your patients to get these immunizations.

Students who miss these immunizations at school can catch-up on missed doses at a KFL&A Public Health Immunization Clinic.

School based immunization resources:

• Immunization of School Pupils Act (R.S.O. 1990)
• Immunizations for School Attendance

• Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Immunization Fact Sheets and Patient Tools

Exemptions

If a parent or guardian chooses to exempt their child from immunization for non-medical reasons, they will be required to complete an educational module at KFL&A Public Health and complete and have notarized a Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Immunization of School Pupils Act Statement of conscience or religious belief exemption form. The parent or guardian must provide, one form per child attending school, the original form to KFL&A Public Health. The process to complete the educational module will require 45 minutes to 1 hour of time. The education module addresses the risks and the benefits of immunization, how vaccines work, herd immunity, vaccine safety, immunization schedules, and immunization legislative requirements for school children in Ontario under the ISPA.

If the student requires an exemption for religious or conscience reasons the parent or guardian should:

STEP 1

1. Call the Immunization Team at KFL&A Public Health at 613-549-1232 to book an appointment and review the process for completing the required education module. The module will take on average approximately 45 minutes.

STEP 2

1. Print out the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Immunization of School Pupils Act Statement of conscience or religious belief exemption form.
2. Complete the form with a Commissioner for taking affidavits.
3. Provide the original affidavit to the KFL&A Public Health Immunization Team. The parents or guardian should keep a copy of the affidavit for their records and provide a copy to their healthcare provider if required.

Medical exemption

If the student requires an exemption from immunization for medical reasons:

1. Their physician completes a valid Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Immunization of School Pupils Act Statement of medical exemption form. Parents or guardians are to return the original completed form to the KFL&A Public Health Immunization Team and keep a copy for themselves.