Student vaccine requirements under the Immunization of School Pupils Act
Advisory Alert
March 1, 2024
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To: Local Health System Partners
FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
Annual review of student immunization records under the Immunization of School Pupils Act
The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires that all students under the age of 18 attending elementary or secondary schools in Ontario have an up to date immunization record or a valid exemption. Public Health Sudbury & Districts is currently reviewing secondary school student immunization records and notifying students who are 16 years of age and older or parents/guardians of minor students whose records do not meet the ISPA requirements. Elementary school student record review will begin in May 2024.
It is anticipated that parents/guardians/students may contact your office to obtain immunization records or to schedule an appointment to receive the required vaccinations.
This Advisory Alert provides information on the vaccines required for school attendance under the ISPA, guidance on immunizing eligible students, vaccine availability and ordering processes, and information on vaccine reporting.
Vaccines required under ISPA
Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires that children and adolescents attending licensed daycare, primary, and secondary school be appropriately immunized against designated diseases, unless they have a valid exemption. Designated diseases include:
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Polio
- Measles
- Mumps
- Rubella
- Meningococcal Disease
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Varicella (chickenpox) – for children born in 2010 or later
Please review any immunization records you may have for the student prior to vaccinating to determine the student’s eligibility for vaccination, as well as the vaccines that are required to fulfill ISPA requirements. Please refer to the Ontario Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule to verify that your patients have received all necessary immunizations.
Guidance for immunizing eligible students
The specific vaccine product used for vaccination and the number of doses required under the ISPA depend on the age of the child and their vaccination history. Vaccines administered that are not appropriate for age or requirement, or those that are administered at less than the recommended intervals, are considered invalid.
| Vaccine Product* | Recommended Age or Grade | Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| DTaP-IPV-Hib (Pediacel®) | 2 months to 6 years | The number of doses and the vaccine product required depends on the age of the child and their vaccination history. Refer to table 4 of the publicly funded schedule for further information. |
| Tdap-IPV (Adacel-Polio® and Boostrix-Polio®) | 4 to 6 years | This product is appropriate for children that have been immunized in accordance with the routine schedule and have received all of the required doses in the primary series for which they are eligible. Refer to table 4 of the publicly funded schedule for further information. |
| Tdap (Adacel® and Boostrix®) | 14 to 16 years | Generally administered 10 years after the last primary series dose of vaccine. Refer to table 24 of the publicly funded schedule for information for students >7 years of age who have not completed their primary series. |
| Men-C-C (Menjugate® and NeisVac-C®) | >1 year of age (born on/after 2003/09/01) | One dose is required. Infants who have received a previous dose(s) require an additional dose after 1 year of age. This vaccine is not appropriate for use in adolescents requiring meningococcal vaccination for ISPA vaccine requirements. |
| Men-C-ACYW (Menactra® and Nimenrix®) | Grade 7 to 12 | One dose is required. Men-C-C vaccines are not appropriate for use in this age group and do not meet the ISPA requirements for vaccination. Ensure that Men-C-ACYW is vaccine is ordered and administered in this population. |
| MMR (MMR II® and Priorix®) | >1 year of age | Must be administered the same day as other live vaccines or separated by the appropriate interval as outlined in table 16 of the publicly funded schedule. |
| MMRV (ProQuad® and Priorix-Tetra®) | 4 to 12 years of age | Should not be used in children under age 4. Must be administered the same day as other live vaccines or separated by the appropriate interval as outlined in table 16 of the |
| Var (Varilrix® and Varivax III®) | >1 year of age | Must be administered the same day as other live vaccines or separated by the appropriate interval as outlined in table 16 of the publicly funded schedule. |
Parents/guardians/students seeking exemption for religious or conscientious reasons can be directed to our website phsd.ca for further information.
Vaccine availability and ordering information
Vaccines may be ordered by completing the Vaccine Order Form. Forms may be submitted by email to vaccineorder@phsd.ca or by fax to 1.705.677.9616.
Vaccine reporting
Health care providers and parents/guardians are reminded to notify Public Health Sudbury & Districts when any vaccine is administered to a school-aged child so that their student immunization record can be updated. Please complete our updated reporting tool and fax to the VPD confidential fax line at 705.677.9616.
Parents/guardians/students may also report vaccines using the fax number or online reporting tool linked above, or by phone at the number below.
Should you have any questions, please contact the Vaccine Preventable Diseases program at 705.522.9200, ext. 458.
Sincerely,
Original Signed By
Dr. Marlene Spruyt
Acting Medical Officer of Health
On behalf of Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer
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This item was last modified on March 1, 2024