Vaccination requirements for school attendance
Advisory Alert
January 10, 2020
To: Community health care providers
Re: Vaccination requirements for school attendance
Public Health Sudbury & Districts is currently reviewing student immunization records and contacting parents of children whose records indicate that they are not fully immunized.
Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires that children and adolescents attending licensed daycare, primary, or secondary school be appropriately immunized against designated diseases, unless they have a valid exemption.
It is anticipated that parents might contact your office to obtain immunization records or to make an appointment for the student to receive vaccination. 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.
Guidance for immunizing eligible students:
- Adolescents requiring vaccination against diphtheria, pertussis, and/or tetanus should receive a single dose of Adacel®/Boostrix® vaccine. Although it is commonly referred to as the 14- to 16-year booster, it is required that students receive this vaccine 10 years after their last primary dose of diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis containing vaccine (given at 4 to 6 years of age). If the child received this dose at age 4 they become overdue for vaccination, and thus flagged for suspension if not compliant after age 14.
- Adolescents born on or after January 1, 1997, and in grades 7 to 12 require vaccination with Menactra® vaccine, which protects against meningococcal disease serogroups A/C/Y/W-135. Menactra® vaccine is not typically a product that is part of your vaccine inventory. This vaccine may be ordered in specific cases where the student is requesting vaccination through your office. Administering a meningococcal C conjugate vaccine (Menjugate®) does not meet the requirement for ISPA for adolescent students.
- Children born on/after September 1, 2003, require vaccination with Menjugate® vaccine, which protects against meningococcal conjugate serogroup C. This vaccine is to be given after the age of 1 year. Infants ˂ 1 year who have received a previous dose(s) will require an additional dose after 1 year of age.
Publicly funded vaccines are available through your normal vaccine ordering processes.
Health care providers and parents/guardians are reminded to notify public health when any vaccine is administered to a school-aged child so that their student immunization record can be updated.
All immunization requirements for school attendance align with Ontario’s publicly funded immunization schedule
(http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/immunization/schedule.aspx). Please see Ontario’s publicly funded immunization schedule to verify that your clients have received all necessary immunizations.
Should you have any questions, please contact our immunization program at 705.522.9200, ext. 458.
Sincerely,
Annie Berthiaume, RN, MPH
Manager, Health Protection Division
This item was last modified on January 20, 2020