Students who were in grades 7 through 12 during the 2019/2020, 2020/2021 and 2021/2022 school years (birth years 2002 through 2009, including students who graduated in the last two years) may be missing important routine immunizations as a result of delays in visits to schools due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
TBDHU encourages catching up on missed vaccines as soon as possible.
How to Get Caught Up
Please select the scenario that applies to your child:
TBDHU visited every elementary school in Thunder Bay and surrounding rural communities during the 2021-2022 school year to provide first doses of the Grade 7 vaccines to students currently in Grades 7 and 8.
As TBDHU will not visit schools again prior to the end of the 2021-22 school year to administer second doses, there are several options available for students to receive their second dose to finish the vaccine series for full protection OR to start the series of vaccines if the school clinic was missed for any reason.
Please read below to find out WHEN students are eligible for a second dose and HOW to access these vaccines for either a first or second dose.
If you are unsure about which vaccines your child needs to get caught up, you have several options to find out:
- Check your child’s ICON (Immunization Connect ONtario) account. To access your account, or to learn more about it if you don’t have an account already, visit the Immunization Connect (ICON) page.
- Call TBDHU at 625-5900 and speak with a vaccine nurse.
- Email vaccines@tbdhu.com with your first name and telephone number and a vaccine nurse will follow up.
See the Vaccine Details section below for information on which vaccines may be missing for different grades/ages.
When Students are Eligible
Students who missed the clinic at their school are eligible NOW.
Students who were vaccinated at school are eligible 6 months after their first dose.
The following chart lists the dates that TBDHU visited each school, as well as the date students will be eligible for their second dose.
NOTE: Five local schools will not be eligible for second doses until the fall of 2022. Information about vaccine opportunities at that time will be provided on this webpage and shared on social media as soon as they are available.
| School | First Dose Received | Eligible for Second Dose |
|---|---|---|
| Algonquin Avenue | November 15, 2021 | May 15, 2022 |
| Bishop E.Q. Jennings | March 21, 2022 | September 21, 2022 |
| Bishop Gallagher | March 24, 2022 | September 24, 2022 |
| C.D. Howe | November 8, 2021 | May 8, 2022 |
| Claude E. Garton | November 4, 2021 | May 4, 2022 |
| Crestview | October 26, 2021 | April 26, 2022 |
| Elsie MacGill | November 16, 2021 | May 16, 2022 |
| Gron Morgan | November 18, 2021 | May 18, 2022 |
| Five Mile | November 1, 2021 | May 1, 2022 |
| Gorham and Ware | October 21, 2021 | April 21, 2022 |
| IR Churchill | October 20, 2021 | April 20, 2022 |
| Kakabeka Falls | November 5, 2021 | May 5, 2022 |
| Kingsway Park | March 7, 2022 | September 7, 2022 |
| LaVerendrye | October 25, 2021 | April 26, 2022 |
| McKellar Park | October 18, 2021 | April 18, 2022 |
| McKenzie | November 5, 2021 | May 5, 2022 |
| Nor'Wester View | November 2, 2021 | May 2, 2022 |
| Ogden Community | October 29, 2021 | April 29, 2022 |
| Pope John Paul II | March 28, 2022 | September 28, 2022 |
| Sherbrooke | March 10, 2022 | September 10, 2022 |
| St. James | October 26, 2021 | April 26, 2022 |
| Thunder Bay Christian | October 19, 2021 | April 19, 2022 |
| Valley Central | October 29, 2021 | April 29, 2022 |
| Vance Chapman | November 29, 2021 | May 29, 2022 |
| Westmount | November 19, 2021 | May 19, 2022 |
| Whitefish Valley | October 18, 2021 | April 18, 2022 |
| Woodcrest | October 28, 2021 | April 28, 2022 |
How to Get Vaccinated
At the CLE Coliseum Clinic
- This clinic is open to all students (Grades 7-12), including at-home learners, as well as those who graduated in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 school years.
- Walk-in when the clinic is open:
- Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Appointments can be made if preferred by calling 625-5900 and asking to speak with a vaccine nurse.
- Do not to attend the clinic if you are experiencing symptoms or are required to isolate. Visit the COVID-19 Guidance page for more information.
- COVID-19 vaccines may be given at the same time as, or any time before or after, these routine immunizations for children 12 years and older, so individuals visiting the CLE Clinic can also receive any outstanding doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Through a Health Care Provider
- Make an appointment with your health care provider and ask the provider to report the vaccines given to TBDHU.
- Those without a health care provider can make at appointment at the TBDHU Immunization Clinic.
- TBDHU will be visiting all high schools in Thunder Bay during the 2021/22 school year to provide any vaccines that students are eligible to receive.
- Consent form have been mailed home.
- A list of high school clinic dates can be found on the School Immunization page under High School Immunizations.
Please review these scenarios and follow all that apply to your child:
A consent form was not received.
- Please call 625-5900 and ask to speak with a vaccine nurse or email vaccines@tbdhu.com with your first name and telephone number for follow up from a vaccine nurse.
A consent form was received but not returned to the school.
- If you did not return the consent form to the school before the date listed on the form, you can provide verbal consent over the phone by calling 625-5900 to speak with a vaccine nurse OR email vaccines@tbdhu.com with your first name and telephone number and a vaccine nurse will call you.
The school clinic was missed.
- Students who missed the clinic at their school can access one of the vaccine opportunities listed below.
The student wants to receive the vaccine sooner than the school visit.
- Students can access one of the vaccine opportunities listed below.
The student did not receive a consent form or a parent/guardian has questions about vaccines.
- Call TBDHU at 625-5900 and speak with a vaccine nurse.
- Email vaccines@tbdhu.com with your first name and telephone number and a vaccine nurse will call you.
Current vaccine opportunities include:
At the CLE Coliseum Clinic
- This clinic is open to all students (Grades 7-12), including at-home learners, as well as those who graduated in the 2019/20 and 2020/21 school years.
- Walk-in when the clinic is open:
- Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- Appointments can be made if preferred by calling 625-5900 and asking to speak with a vaccine nurse.
- Do not to attend the clinic if you are experiencing symptoms or are required to isolate. Visit the COVID-19 Guidance page for more information.
- COVID-19 vaccines may be given at the same time as, or any time before or after, these routine immunizations for children 12 years and older, so individuals visiting the CLE Clinic can also receive any outstanding doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Through a Health Care Provider
- Make an appointment with your health care provider and ask the provider to report the vaccines given to TBDHU.
- Those without a health care provider can make at appointment at the TBDHU Immunization Clinic.
Step 1 - Identify if your child is missing vaccines.
If you are unsure if your child is missing vaccines, or which vaccines your child needs to get caught up, you have several options to find out:
- Check your child’s ICON (Immunization Connect ONtario) account. To access your account, or to learn more about it if you don’t have an account already, visit the Immunization Connect (ICON) page.
- Call your local TBDHU Branch Office to speak with a nurse.
See the Vaccine Details section below for information on which vaccines may be missing for different grades/ages.
Step 2 - Get vaccinated.
Students in Grades 7, 8 and high school in District communities, will be offered the opportunity to receive and/or catch up on any routine immunizations at school-based clinics.
District school clinic dates are posted on the School Immunizations page, under the District Communities tabs, as they are available:
If your child has missed the clinic at their school or requires special accommodations, or you have any questions, please contact your health care provider or your nearest TBDHU branch office.
Vaccine Details
- Meningococcal conjugate (Men-C-ACYW) vaccine (1 dose needed); students are eligible until the vaccine is received.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV-9) vaccine (2 doses); students are eligible until August 31 of their Grade 12 year; if started later, those 15 and older require 3 doses to complete the series.
- Hepatitis B vaccine (2 doses needed); students are eligible until August 31 of their Grade 12 year; if started later, those 16 and older require 3 doses to complete the series.
- Meningococcal conjugate (Men-C-ACYW) vaccine (1 dose needed); students are eligible until the vaccine is received.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV-9) vaccine; students are eligible until August 31 of their Grade 12 year; those who start the vaccine at age 15 and older require 3 doses to complete the series; if started before the age of 15, only two doses are required.
- Hepatitis B vaccine (2 doses needed); students are eligible until August 31 of their Grade 12 year; if started later, those 16 and older require 3 doses to complete the series.
- Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis vaccine (1 dose needed); this is a booster dose received at least 10 years after the dose received between the ages of 4 and 6; students are eligible until the vaccine is received and will be eligible for another booster in 10 years after this dose.
- Meningococcal conjugate (Men-C-ACYW) vaccine (1 dose needed); students are eligible until the vaccine is received.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV-9) vaccine; students are eligible until August 31 of their Grade 12 year; those who start the vaccine at age 15 and older require 3 doses to complete the series; if started before the age of 15, only two doses are required.
- Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis vaccine (1 dose needed); this is a booster dose received at least 10 years after the dose received between the ages of 4 and 6; students are eligible until the vaccine is received and will be eligible for another booster in 10 years after this dose.
- Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis vaccine (1 dose needed); this is a booster dose received at least 10 years after the dose received between the ages of 4 and 6; students are eligible until the vaccine is received and will be eligible for another booster in 10 years after this dose.
- Human papillomavirus (HPV-9) vaccine for female students; eligible until August 31, 2022; those who start the vaccine at age 15 and older require 3 doses to complete the series; if started before the age of 15, only two doses are required.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Call TBDHU at 625-5900 and speak with a vaccine nurse.
- Email vaccines@tbdhu.com and include your first name and telephone number and a vaccine nurse will follow up.
- An ICON account will allow you safely, quickly and conveniently submit records or access records.
- Visit the ICON page for more information or call to speak with a vaccine nurse at 625-5900.
- If you do not have the specific details, please contact your health care provider and they will give you what you need to submit to the TBDHU.
- You can submit through an ICON account OR one of the following methods:
- Fax: 1-807-625-4828 (do it yourself or have your health care provider fax it for you)
- Mail: TBDHU, 999 Balmoral Street, Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6E7
- Drop-off: 999 Balmoral Street
- No. TBDHU has paused suspensions due to the challenges families have faced catching up on vaccines during the pandemic.
- Return the consent form to the school before the date of the school clinic; OR
- Call TBDHU at (807) 625-5900 to speak to a vaccine nurse and provide consent over the phone; OR
- Email vaccines@tbdhu.com to request a call from a vaccine nurse (include first name and phone number) to provide consent over the phone.
- Call TBDHU at (807) 625-5900 to speak to a vaccine nurse or email vaccines@tbdhu.com to request a call from a vaccine nurse (include first name and phone number) to review the options available.
- As TBDHU has already assessed the child’s vaccine record prior to sending the consent, you can currently walk-in to the TBDHU’s CLE Coliseum clinic during operational hours:
- Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
- Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- You can also make an appointment with your health care provider and ask the provider to report the vaccines given to TBDHU. Those without a health care provider can make at appointment at the TBDHU Immunization Clinic.
- Call TBDHU at (807) 625-5900 to speak to a vaccine nurse or email vaccines@tbdhu.com to request a call from a vaccine nurse (include first name and phone number) to review the options available.
- CARD System Handout: Coping with Pain and Fear around Vaccination for Teens - SickKids
- Needle Pokes: Reducing pain with comfort positions and distraction - SickKids
- Improving the Vaccination Experience - Using Numbing Cream to Reduce Pain - SickKids
- Improving the Vaccination Experience - Comfort Positions - SickKids
- The CARD™ Toolkit for Educators, Parents, and Healthcare Professionals - Anxiety Canada
- Visit the School Immunization webpage and scroll down to the section called Exemptions, under Immunization of School Pupils Act.