School Screening & Suspensions

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Thousands of children and youth under 18 years of age in Hamilton are missing routine vaccinations that would protect them from diseases such as measles, polio and meningitis.

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 vaccinations are not up to date or a valid exemption is not on file, the child may be suspended from school.

Letters are being sent out to let parents know that your child’s vaccine record is not up to date with Public Health. Childhood vaccine records must be provided to Public Health under the law as part of ISPA. Check your child’s yellow vaccine card to see whether they received the required vaccines. Please visit your health care provider if you are unsure of your child's vaccination status. Parents of children who require vaccinations can visit their healthcare providers (e.g., family doctor, other primary care provider or walk-in clinic), who can administer 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.

Vaccine Reporting

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

School Suspension Clinics