School requirements & vaccine records

What the school law covers

For students under 18, Ontario’s school vaccination law—the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA)—requires proof of the vaccinations needed for their age against the following diseases, unless a valid exemption is on file:

• Diphtheria, tetanus, polio and whooping cough (pertussis).
• Measles, mumps and rubella.
• Meningococcal disease.
• Chickenpox (varicella), for children born in 2010 or later.

Public health assesses dose dates, vaccine types, age and documentation. The website cannot determine compliance. Licensed child care has a separate process; ask the child care centre and public health unit.

Offered at school ≠ required for school

Vaccines require informed consent. Teens can ask the vaccinator about consent, privacy and their own questions. School requirements and consent to treatment are separate issues.

Keep the public health record current

• Keep a copy of the record after every dose.
• Report doses given outside public health clinics to your local public health unit; do not assume the clinic has done this for you.
• Use the record-reporting or ICON link on your public health unit’s own website. Public health may already hold doses given in its school clinics; check what is on file.

Ontario — find your public health unit

If you received a notice

A notice may mean a dose is missing or that public health does not have the record. Read the deadline and contact the unit named on the notice. Compare its list with your records, submit any missing documentation and arrange a provider review if needed.

Exemptions and outbreak exclusions

Medical exemptions require the official form completed by a physician or nurse practitioner and submitted to public health. A documented immunity assessment may be relevant. For a non-medical exemption, Ontario requires an education session, the appropriate sworn or affirmed form and submission through the public health unit.

• Ontario — Statement of Medical Exemption (4895-64)
• Ontario — Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief (4897-64)

Contact public health for the exact process and required originals. During an outbreak, a child who is not protected may be excluded temporarily, including a child with an exemption. Public health determines return-to-school instructions.

This is a general explanation, not legal advice.