Beginning on December 2, 2020, all school immunizations (grade 7 and 8 immunizations and high school boosters) will be temporarily on hold.
As staffing is realigned to meet the COVID-19 case and contact management needs of the TBDHU, the following priorities have been set for immunization services:
Routine infant immunizations for those 2 - 18 months without a health care provider
Children under 5 for flu (influenza) immunizations
Immunocompromised individuals without a health care provider requiring routine immunizations
Please check back regularly for updates on when routine immunization clinics will be offered in the New Year.
Most high school students are eligible for Tdap, the 10 year booster that is a three-in-one vaccine. It protects people against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis. Immunization against tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis is required by law for all children attending school in Ontario, unless a valid exemption is filed with the Health Unit.
Immunization of School Pupils Act
The Immunization of School Pupils Act requires that all students 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). These infections are covered under Ontario's Routine Immunization Schedule.
If a child’s immunization record is not up-to-date according to the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), parents/guardians will be contacted through a letter sent home by the TBDHU. The letter will provide details and instructions so a suspension can be avoided.
If you receive a letter, please review immediately and contact a TBDHU nurse; call 625-5900 in Thunder Bay or contact your nearest branch office. To avoid suspension, always keep your child's immunizations up-to-date according to Ontario's Routine Immunization Schedule, and report all immunizations to the TBDHU.
Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, your child can be exempted from immunization for medical reasons or due to conscience or religious belief.
Make copies of your certificate and your signed Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief form and submit the originals to you’re the nearest office of the Health Unit. It is important that you keep your copy for safe keeping.
Children with exemptions may be excluded from attending school (often for several weeks) in the event of an outbreak caused by one of the vaccine-preventable diseases noted in the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA).
Students who miss a dose of any vaccine (for example, is not at school on immunization day) can still receive it by visiting the Immunization Clinic or their health care provider (family doctor, etc.).
For Further Information
Call a nurse at (807) 625-5900 or Toll-Free at 1 (888) 294-6630.
