Immunizations for School-Aged Children and Youth

For the 2023/24 school year in Thunder Bay and surrounding areas, TBDHU will review and assess all Grade 2-5 student immunization records, notify parents/guardians of missing vaccines or information, and offer vaccine clinics at the Health Unit Main Office and in the community. TBDHU will also return to the full ISPA process, including the suspension process for students in grades 2-5 who are overdue and whose records remain incomplete.

Please read Dr. Janet DeMille’s letter to parents/guardians of students in grades 2-5 for more information.

Timeline

For the 2023/24 school year in the District of Thunder Bay, TBDHU will review and assess all Grade 2-5 student immunization records, notify parents/guardians of missing vaccines or information, and offer suspension clinics. TBDHU will also return to the full ISPA process, including the suspension process for students in grades 2-5 who are overdue and whose records remain incomplete.

Please read Dr. Janet DeMille’s letter to parents/guardians of students in grade 2-5 in District communities for more information. Please note: Due to weather conditions the Terrace Bay grade 2-5 suspension period, along with vaccination clinic dates in this community have been altered. For updated dates, please see the table below. 

For specific dates regarding this process, see the timeline outlined in the table below for each District community. 

For students needing to be immunized prior to the suspension period, please contact your health care provider. If you do not have a health care provider, call your local TBDHU Branch office to learn more about your vaccination options.

The TBDHU will be visiting all schools with Grade 7 students starting the Fall of 2023. See below for the 2023/2024 school year clinic schedule – first and second dose clinic dates are available. Second dose clinics will be held approximately 6 months following the first dose clinic. Please note these dates are subject to change.

Parental consent for vaccines offered in Grade 7 remain active for the duration of your child’s Grade 7 and 8 school years, so that missed vaccines in Grade 7 can be offered at school clinics when your child is in Grade 8.

The TBDHU will be visiting all district community schools with Grade 7 students starting in the Fall of 2023. See below for the 2023/2024 school year clinic schedule. Second dose clinics will be held approximately 6 months following the first dose clinic. Please note these dates are subject to change.

• Parental consent for vaccines offered in Grade 7 remain active for the duration of your child’s Grade 7 and 8 school years, so that missed vaccines in Grade 7 can be offered at school clinics when your child is in Grade 8.

If you can’t find your child’s immunization package, it can be downloaded from the following links. All materials are available in English and French.

Consents provided in Grade 7 remain valid in Grade 8 if your child missed being immunized in their Grade 7 year. 

• Immunization Consent Form
• Parent Information Letter
• Ontario's Grade 7 School Immunization Program Checklist for Parents

Students in Grade 8 who submitted a consent form while in Grade 7 but did not receive the immunizations can receive the immunizations in Grade 8 at the TBDHU immunization school clinic during the 2023/2024 school year.

Students in Grade 8 who did not submit a consent form while in Grade 7 are also able to receive these immunizations. We encourage parents who did not consent in Grade 7 and who wish for their child to receive these vaccines in Grade 8 to call us at (807) 625-5900 to speak to an immunization nurse. Please see the school clinic calendar tabs below for the details on the dates and times of these school visits across the TBDHU service area.

Ensuring that your child gets their missing doses at a school clinic is an easy way to get them caught up on their vaccines. However, it is recommended that they receive the missed doses as soon as possible by choosing one of the options below.

There is no minimum age of consent for medical treatment in Ontario. Parental consent is encouraged. However, if a high school student attends a school clinic and requests an immunization, TBDHU nurses will assess their capacity to understand the information relevant to making the decision, such as the risks and benefits of the vaccines they are eligible to receive. It is encouraged to talk to your child about the vaccines they are eligible to receive and the options for consenting.

For the 2023/24 school year, TBDHU will review and assess all high school student immunization records, notify parents/guardians of missing vaccines or information, and offer vaccine clinics in all high schools and in the community. TBDHU will also return to the full ISPA process, including the suspension process for high school students who are overdue and whose records remain incomplete.

Please read Dr. Janet DeMille’s letter to parents/guardians of high school students for more information. 

Timeline

School Clinic Calendar

TBDHU visits high schools once per school year to offer the Tdap vaccine to eligible students. Other missing ISPA-required vaccines may be offered at the same time. To learn more about the Tdap and other recommended vaccines, see the Recommended Immunizations section below. 

Dates for the 2023/2024 school year are found below. Consents will be mailed directly to the student’s home addresses and should be returned to the school.

For the 2023/24 school year, TBDHU will review and assess all high school student immunization records, notify parents/guardians of missing vaccines or information, and offer vaccine clinics in high schools, as well as suspension clinics. TBDHU will also return to the full ISPA process, including the suspension process for high school students who are overdue and whose records remain incomplete.

Please read Dr. Janet DeMille’s letter to parents/guardians of high school students in District communities for more information. Please note: Due to weather conditions the Terrace Bay dates have been altered. For updated dates, please see the table below. 

For specific dates regarding this process, see the timeline outlined in the table below for each District community.

School Clinic Calendar

Health Care Providers

If you have a health care provider, contact them to make an appointment. If your child gets a vaccine at a health care provider’s office, don’t forget to send this information to TBDHU through ICON, a safe online portal, or by faxing or emailing it to the closest branch office.

Thunder Bay District Health Unit Clinics

Thunder Bay Area

• Step 1: Call TBDHU at 807-625-5900 to speak with a nurse and confirm your child is eligible for a routine vaccine and to learn more about clinic options.
• Step 2: Book an immunization appointment at our 999 Balmoral Street office in Thunder Bay or visit one of our walk-in vaccine clinic options.

District Communities

Call your local TBDHU Branch office to learn more about your vaccination options.

Students in this age group should also stay up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines. COVID-19 vaccines are available through a variety of channels including health care providers, pharmacies and TBDHU clinics. 

School Clinics

Providing written or verbal consent and/or encouraging your child to attend their school’s scheduled vaccine clinic is the easiest way to keep your child up to date on their vaccines.

Health Care Providers

If you have a health care provider, contact them to make an appointment. If your child gets a vaccine at a health care provider’s office, don’t forget to send this information to TBDHU through ICON, a safe online portal, or by faxing or emailing it to the closest branch office.

Thunder Bay District Health Unit Clinics

Thunder Bay Area

• Step 1: Call TBDHU at 807-625-5900 to speak with a nurse and confirm your child is eligible for a routine vaccine and to learn more about clinic options.
• Step 2: Book an immunization appointment at our 999 Balmoral Street office in Thunder Bay or visit one of our walk-in vaccine clinic options.

District Communities

Call your local TBDHU Branch office to learn more about your vaccination options.

Students in this age group should also stay up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines. COVID-19 vaccines are available through a variety of channels including health care providers, pharmacies and TBDHU clinics. 

School Clinics

Providing written or verbal consent and/or encouraging your child to attend their school’s scheduled vaccine clinic is the easiest way to keep your child up to date on their vaccines.

Health Care Providers

If you have a health care provider, contact them to make an appointment. Don’t forget to send vaccine information to TBDHU through ICON, a safe online portal, or by faxing or emailing it to the closest branch office.

Thunder Bay District Health Unit Clinics

Thunder Bay Area

• Step 1: Call TBDHU at 807-625-5900 to speak with a nurse to confirm eligibility and learn more about clinic options.
• Step 2: Book an immunization appointment at our 999 Balmoral Street office in Thunder Bay or visit one of our walk-in vaccine clinic options.

District Communities

Call your local TBDHU Branch office to learn more about your vaccination options.

Students in this age group should also stay up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines. COVID-19 vaccines are available through a variety of channels including health care providers, pharmacies and TBDHU clinics.