- Proof of certain vaccines: The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) is an Ontario law that requires that all students attending school in Ontario have proof of vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus (lockjaw), polio, measles, mumps and rubella (German measles), meningitis, pertussis (whooping cough), and chickenpox (required for children born in 2010 or later).
- Vaccines are available at no cost: Vaccines that protect against these infections are free in Ontario through Ontario’s Routine Immunization Schedule.
- Parents/guardians will be informed if vaccines are missing: TBDHU will send communication to parents/guardians if their student is missing vaccine information from their record for any of the ISPA vaccines.
- Schedule for suspensions under ISPA: TBDHU will start the process in early 2026 and the details, including the schedule, are listed below.
- Ontario law: The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) is the Ontario law that requires students have up-to-date vaccinations (or a valid statement of exemption for medical reasons, reasons of conscience or religious beliefs) in order to attend school.
- Required vaccines: Under ISPA legislation, students can be suspended from school if TBDHU does not have record of the required vaccinations listed below or a valid exemption on file (see section below for more information on exemptions):
- DTaP-IPV-Hib (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, haemophilus influenza type B)
- Men-C-C (meningitis)
- Tdap-IPV (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio)
- MMR (measles, mumps, rubella)
- MMRV (measles, mumps, rubella, varicella)
- Men-C-ACYW 135 (meningitis) -
- Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) - IPV (Polio)
- Children born after January 1, 2010, are also required to have vaccination against varicella (chicken pox).
- More information on each vaccine: More information on the vaccines listed above can be found on the Ontario website.
What happens when a record is considered incomplete according to ISPA?
- Communication sent to parents: TBDHU will send communication to families to give them the time needed to update their child’s vaccine record by:
- reporting the missing vaccine information to TBDHU OR
- making an appointment to get the missing vaccines and then sharing the vaccine information with TBDHU
How can I report vaccine information to TBDHU?
- Upload a photo: One of the easiest options is to upload a photo of any vaccine information and send through a safe and secure link.
- Other options: Other options include faxing, mailing or delivering to the nearest TBDHU office. Details on each option can be found at TBDHU.com/vaxreport.
- Register for ICON: TBDHU recommends parents/guardians also register for an Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) account. An ICON account will allow parents/guardians to access their child's vaccine records quickly and easily in the future if they are needed for medical, travel, employment or post-secondary education. The postal code used to register must match the postal code in the vaccine record. Families experiencing challenges accessing ICON can call 807-625-5908 or toll-free 1-888-294-6630 (ext. 5908).
How can my child get the vaccines they are missing?
- Family health care provider: After getting the missing vaccine(s) from a family health care provider, the information must be shared with TBDHU (see above for the options) as this is the responsibility of the parent/guardian.
- TBDHU Clinic: Families can make an appointment for their school-aged child to receive the vaccine(s) at a TBDHU clinic using the online booking system at TBDHU.com/vaxclinics. Any vaccines given by TBDHU will automatically be added to the child’s record.
If my child received their vaccine(s) from a health care provider, why isn’t it a part of their record?
- Parent/guardian responsibility: It is the parents/guardians’ responsibility to report their child’s vaccine information to TBDHU.TBDHU only has record of the vaccines administered by our staff.
- Not required to report: Health care providers are not required to report to TBDHU the vaccine(s)they administer.
Why are students suspended from school for not having up-to-date vaccination records?
- Protects students and school communities: Immunization protects children from vaccine preventable diseases and reduces the risk of disease outbreaks in schools.
- TBDHU required to enforce: TBDHU must enforce the law as outlined in the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA)
- Process allows time to avoid suspension: The process developed by TBDHU includes communication through the mail to alert families and give them time to get their child’s record up to date to avoid suspension.
- Virtual learners must also get the vaccines required under ISPA, but they will not be suspended.
Can children receive an exemption from immunization?
- Two exemptions available: We encourage parents and guardians to ensure their child is protected against vaccine preventable diseases. However, there are two types of exemptions available to parents/guardians; medical and conscience or religious belief.
- More information: See the Exemptions under ISPA tab at the bottom of this page for more details.
How can I contact the Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) team at TBDHU with any questions?
- Issues with ICON: The postal code used to register must match the postal code in the vaccine record. Contact the Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) program with any issues.
- Website or call: Visit TBDHU.com/schoolvax OR call VPD at (807) 625-5908, Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.
All Catholic elementary schools (English and French)
- Request for Information Notice (first notice): Mailed week of February 9, 2026
- Order of Suspension (second notice): Mailed week of March 16, 2026
- Suspension Period Begins: First day is Wednesday, April 8, 2026
- Suspension Period Ends 20 school days later: Tuesday, May 5, 2026 (PA days are included in the 20 days)
- Students can return to school on Wed, May 6, 2026 if they do not resolve the suspension during the 20 days
All public elementary schools (English and French)
- Request for Information Notice (first notice): Mailed week of February 23, 2026
- Order of Suspension (second notice): Mailed week of March 30, 2026
- Suspension Period Begins: First day is Wednesday, April 22, 2026
- Suspension Period Ends 20 school days later: Wednesday, May 20, 2026 (the May 18 holiday is not included but PA days are included in the 20 days)
- Students can return to school on Thurs, May 21, 2026 if they do not resolve the suspension during the 20 days
All high schools
- Request for Information Notice (first notice): Mailed week of January 27, 2026
- Order of Suspension (second notice): Mailed week of March 2, 2025
- Suspension Period Begins: First day is Wednesday, March 25, 2026
- Suspension Period Ends 20 school days later: Thursday, March 23, 2025 (Good Friday and Easter Monday are not included in the 20 days)
- Students can return to school on Fri, March 24, 2026 if they do not resolve the suspension during the 20 days
The schedule will be posted here once it is available.
- Exemptions: Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) your child can be exempted from immunization for medical reasons or due to conscience or religious belief.
- Signed form must be submitted: The sections below provide more information on the process that must be followed for the forms to be submitted.
- Altered documents not accepted: No part of the signed forms can be altered (e.g. clients writes in COVID-19 vaccine) in any way and no public health unit, including TBDHU, can accept the altered document. If a parent/legal guardian does not agree with any part of the affidavit, they must attach a separate letter or note that can be submitted with the affidavit.
Exemption for Medical Reasons
You must fill out a Statement of Medical Exemption form that has been signed by a physician or nurse practitioner and submit it to the closest TBDHU office. It will indicate the reason for the exemption:
- your child has a medical condition that prevents them from receiving the vaccine
- there is evidence of your child’s immunity to the disease, making further immunization unnecessary
Exemption for Conscience or Religious Belief
Parents/guardians must complete the following steps:
1. Complete a mandatory education session by watching a video (Vaccine Education Video - YouTube) that covers:
- Basic information about immunization
- Vaccine safety
- Immunization and community health
- Immunization law in Ontario
2. Complete a Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief form and have it signed by a commissioner for taking affidavits in Ontario.
3. Make an appointment with a TBDHU nurse once step 1 and 2 are complete. Call 807-625-5908 in Thunder Bay or contact your nearest TBDHU office. Staff will provide you with next steps. As you will need to submit the original signed form, it is recommended that you make a copy for your records.