Ontario Family Vaccine Resource

My Immunization Guide

Clear, accurate, Ontario-specific information about childhood vaccines — the schedule, school requirements, ingredients, side effects, and what to do next.

Independent educational resource. Not affiliated with the Government of Ontario, the Ministry of Health, Public Health Ontario, or any local public health unit. For general information only — not a substitute for advice from a healthcare provider or your local public health unit.

What can I do here?

Whatever brought you here today, there's a clear next step. Pick what fits your situation.

Check the routine schedule by age

See exactly which vaccines are typically given at each age in Ontario, from 2 months to the teen years.

View the schedule →

Learn what each vaccine protects against

Plain-language profiles for every vaccine in the Ontario schedule — what it does, how it's given, and why.

Browse the vaccine library →

Understand Ontario school requirements

What's required for school attendance under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, what's recommended, and how exemptions work.

School requirements hub →

Review ingredients and side effects

Transparent, vaccine-specific ingredient tables and a clear breakdown of expected versus rare side effects.

Safety & ingredients hub →

Get help if you're behind or missing records

A practical, step-by-step guide to figuring out what your child has already had and what may be needed next.

Catch-up & missing records →

Read clear answers to common concerns

Clear, evidence-based answers to common questions about vaccine ingredients, safety, and effectiveness.

Questions & concerns hub →

Built for real parents, not perfect situations

Find the situation that's closest to yours for guidance tailored to that scenario.

Start by age

Every child's path through the schedule follows the same five stages. Find where your child is now.

Why this guide exists

Vaccine information online varies widely in quality and relevance, and Ontario's schedule and school requirements differ from other provinces and countries. My Immunization Guide brings together Ontario-specific vaccine information in one place, using plain language and transparent sourcing, so families can review it alongside their healthcare provider or local public health unit.

Quick answers to get you started

For full detail, each answer links to a dedicated page with complete information and sources.

At 2 months, Ontario's schedule includes the 5-in-1 vaccine (protecting against diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, and Hib), a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, and a rotavirus vaccine. See the full schedule or the 5-in-1 vaccine profile for details.
Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, children must be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease, and pertussis — and varicella (chickenpox) for children born in 2010 or later — unless there is a valid exemption. See the School Requirements hub for the full picture, including how this differs from school-based programs like HPV and hepatitis B.
Falling behind on vaccines is common and can happen for many reasons, such as moves, illness, or unclear records. Catch-up generally does not mean starting a series over, but the right plan depends on your child's age, previous doses, and timing. Visit the Catch-Up & Missing Records page for next steps.
Vaccine ingredients vary by product and serve specific purposes — active ingredients trigger immune protection, while others like stabilizers, preservatives, or adjuvants help the vaccine stay effective and safe. Each vaccine profile in our library includes a product-specific ingredient table sourced from Health Canada product monographs. The Safety & Ingredients hub explains what each ingredient category does and why.
Mild side effects like soreness, redness, or a low fever can happen as the immune system responds, and they usually resolve within a day or two. Many children have no side effects at all, and that does not mean the vaccine didn't work. Each vaccine profile separates expected side effects from rare but important ones, and explains when to seek care.
In Ontario, parents and caregivers are generally responsible for reporting their child's vaccines to their local public health unit — healthcare providers do not always do this automatically. Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) is the tool most public health units use for this. See School Requirements or the Resources page for direct links.

Please note: This is an independent website. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the Government of Ontario, the Ministry of Health, or any public health unit. The information here is for general education only and is not medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider about your or your child's immunizations.