Missed Vaccine Doses

Recommended vaccines during pregnancy (click here for more information from Ontario’s Routine Immunization Schedule):

• Seasonal flu vaccine
• Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine (Ministry of Health fact sheet)

Keeping up with COVID-19 vaccines is also recommended during pregnancy. Please see our page on COVID-19 and pregnancy for more information and resources.

Keeping up with your COVID-19 and flu vaccines while breast or chestfeeding helps protect you, as well as your baby, before they receive their first vaccines at 2 months old.

Breast/chest feeding your baby during their immunizations also provides them with pain relief, so don’t hesitate to feed your baby when it's time for their first vaccines.

2 & 4 months (click here for more information from Ontario’s Routine Immunization Schedule):

• Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, haemophilus influenzae type b (DTaP-IPV-Hib) vaccine (Ministry of Health fact sheet)
• Pneumococcal conjugate (Pneu-C-13) vaccine (Canadian Paediatric Society Vaccine Information)
• Rotavirus (Rot-1) vaccine (Canadian Paediatric Society Vaccine Information)

6 months (click here for more information from Ontario’s Routine Immunization Schedule):

• Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, haemophilus influenzae type b (DTaP-IPV-Hib) vaccine (Ministry of Health fact sheet)

12 months (click here for more information from Ontario’s Routine Immunization Schedule):

• Pneumococcal conjugate (Pneu-C-13) vaccine (Canadian Paediatric Society Vaccine Information)
• Meningococcal conjugate (Men-C-C) vaccine (Canadian Paediatric Society Vaccine Information)
• Measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine (Ministry of Health fact sheet)

15 months (click here for more information from Ontario’s Routine Immunization Schedule):

• Varicella (chickenpox) (Var) vaccine (Ministry of Health fact sheet)

18 months (click here for more information from Ontario’s Routine Immunization Schedule):

• Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, haemophilus influenzae type b (DTaP-IPV-Hib) vaccine (Ministry of Health fact sheet)

Routine vaccines for children 4-6 years old (click here for more information from Ontario’s Routine Immunization Schedule):

• Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis and polio (Tdap-IPV) vaccine (Ministry of Health fact sheet)
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella (MMRV) vaccine - given at 4 to 6 years (Ministry of Health fact sheet)

If either of the two vaccines are missed, they can be received after they turn 6 - but the sooner they receive the doses, the sooner they will be protected.

Routine vaccines for children in Grade 7 (click here for more information from Ontario’s Routine Immunization Schedule):

• Meningococcal conjugate (Men-C-ACYW) vaccine (Ministry of Health fact sheet)
• Hepatitis B (HB) vaccine (Ministry of Health fact sheet)
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine (Ministry of Health fact sheet)

Since several vaccines have age or grade-based eligibility, some individuals may have missed their opportunity to receive the recommended vaccines under the publicly funded program during the COVID-19 pandemic. Current eligibility is as follows:

• Hepatitis B (HB) vaccine: Beginning in the 2022-2023 school year, students who missed one or both doses of hepatitis B vaccine in Grade 7 will have until August 31 of their grade 12 year in to complete the series under Ontario's publicly funded program.
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV-9) vaccine:
  • Healthy grade 7 to 12 students
  • Female students who graduated in the 2019/20, 2020/21, or 2021/22 school years have until August 31, 2023 to complete their HPV vaccine series under Ontario’s publicly funded program.
  • Male students who graduated in the 2021/22 school year have until August 31, 2023 to complete their HPV vaccine series under Ontario’s publicly funded program. Male students born prior to 2004 were not eligible for publicly funded HPV vaccines.

Routine vaccines for youth 14-16 years old (click here for more information from Ontario’s Routine Immunization Schedule):

• Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine (Ministry of Health fact sheet)

Routine vaccines for adults (click here for more information from Ontario’s Routine Immunization Schedule):

• Tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis (Tdap) vaccine – one dose as an adult (Ministry of Health fact sheet)
• Tetanus and diphtheria (Td) Vaccine - as a booster every 10 years (Ministry of Health fact sheet)
• Pneumococcal Polysaccharide (Pneu-P-23) vaccine - for adults 65 years of age and older (Ministry of Health fact sheet)
• Shingles vaccine - for adults 65 to 70 years of age (Ministry of Health fact sheet)

Expanded eligibility due to pandemic-related disruptions:

• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine:
  • Female students who graduated in the 2019/20, 2020/21, or 2021/22 school years have until August 31, 2023 to complete their HPV vaccine series under Ontario’s publicly funded program.
  • Male students who graduated in the 2021/22 school year have until August 31, 2023 to complete their HPV vaccine series under Ontario’s publicly funded program. Male students born prior to 2004 were not eligible for publicly funded HPV vaccines.
• Shingles vaccine: Seniors born in 1949, 1950, 1951, and 1952 remain eligible for this vaccine until December 31, 2023 under Ontario’s publicly funded program.

COVID-19 vaccines are available to everyone 6 months and older. Visit the COVID-19 Vaccines page for more information on the vaccines available to each age group.

Influenza (flu) vaccines are available to everyone 6 months and older.

Certain vaccines are needed for children to attend licensed child care and school. TBDHU needs access to your child’s vaccine records. Nursing staff will review these records and ensure that your child’s vaccines are up to date for their age and eligibility.

TBDHU will not automatically receive a record of immunization. Primary care providers must send it to TBDHU, OR the child’s parent/guardian must provide the record.

Parents/guardians should ask their health care provider if they have notified TBDHU of any vaccines that their office provided to their children. If the information was NOT SENT to TBDHU, parent/guardians must request that it be sent OR get a copy that they can then provide to TBDHU.

Details on how to report vaccines are available below under “How to report vaccine records”.

NOTE: There are two situations where TBDHU does NOT need a copy of the vaccine record:

• COVID-19 vaccines: All health care providers must enter the dose into the provincial reporting database for COVID-19 vaccines. This information will always be up-to-date at www.ontario.ca/get-proof
• Influenza or flu vaccines: It is not necessary to keep a record of the annual influenza or flu vaccine. If you need proof, ask the health care provider for a proof of immunization card.

TBDHU does not need a complete record of adult immunizations. However, it is recommended that you keep accurate immunization records. Vaccine information is often needed in adulthood for various reasons, including:

• school (e.g., health care provider courses such as nursing)
• military service
• work
• travel

Details on how to report vaccines are available below under “How to report vaccine records”.

NOTE: There are two situations where TBDHU does NOT need a copy of the vaccine record:

• COVID-19 vaccines: All health care providers must enter the dose into the provincial reporting database for COVID-19 vaccines. This information will always be up-to-date at www.ontario.ca/get-proof
• Influenza or flu vaccines: It is not necessary to keep a record of the annual influenza or flu vaccine. If you need proof, ask the health care provider for a proof of immunization card.

• Contact your primary care provider to make an appointment.
• No provider and living in Thunder Bay and surrounding rural communities?
  • TBDHU can refer children 2-18 months old to a community provider.
  • TBDHU can also provide many routine immunizations at our Main Office Vaccine Clinic with an appointment. Please visit our Immunization Clinics page or call 807-625-5900 and press 4 for more information.
  • Before going to any vaccine clinic, call TBDHU at 807-625-5900 and press 4 to speak with a nurse about what vaccines you or your child needs, as well as your clinic options. 
  • You can also send your questions to vaccines@tbdhu.com (provide first name and phone number).

• Contact your primary care provider to make an appointment.
• No health care provider? Call your local TBDHU Branch office to learn more about your vaccination options.
• School-aged children will also have access to some vaccines through school-based vaccine clinics in District communities. Please visit the School Immunizations page for more information and a clinic schedule.