School Screening & Suspensions

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Routine childhood vaccinations are important to ensure that children get the best start in life, and provide protection from serious vaccine-preventable infections such as measles, polio and meningitis. 

The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) is an Ontario law that requires students to be vaccinated for certain diseases or have a valid exemption, to protect the health of children and prevent disease outbreaks in schools. If record of vaccinations are not up to date or a valid exemption is not on file with Public Health, the child may be suspended from school.

Throughout the year, letters may be mailed to families to inform them that a child in their household does not have an up-to-date vaccine record with Hamilton Public Health. It is the responsibility of parents to report their children’s vaccine records to public health, and are not reported by healthcare providers. 

If you are uncertain whether a child in your household has an up-to-date vaccination record, you can verify online or by calling 905-540-5250. To obtain your child’s vaccination history for reporting purposes, you can refer to your child’s yellow vaccine card or speak with your health care provider. If the child requires vaccinations they can visit their healthcare providers (e.g., family doctor, other primary care provider or walk-in clinic), to receive the necessary vaccinations. 

Vaccines required under ISPA

• diphtheria, pertussis (whooping cough), tetanus, poliomyelitis
• measles, mumps, rubella (German measles)
• varicella (chicken pox; for those born 2010 and onward)
• meningitis

School Suspensions

If your child's vaccine records are not up to date they can be suspended from school for up to 20 school days or until an up to date vaccine record, or an exemption is provided to Public Health.

If their vaccine record is not up to date following the screening letter, a suspension letter will be sent. The letter gives the final deadline to submit your child's up to date vaccine record or exemption, to avoid being suspended from school.

School Suspension Clinics

If you or your child are at risk of being suspended from school and you have not been able to obtain vaccinations, Hamilton Public Health will be running vaccination clinics. If you need help booking an appointment, please call 905-546-2424 ext. 7556. Before booking an appointment, please ensure your or your child’s vaccine records have been reported to public health. Details about the next available suspension clinics are listed below:

Book a Suspension Clinic Appointment

Vaccine Reporting

Updating vaccine reports can be done online, by mail or by phone: