Vaccines & Immunizations
School Screening & Suspensions
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, meningitis, and HPV.
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
Make sure your child is up to date on their vaccines. Routine childhood immunizations are available for children from JK to Grade 12. Infants born in 2024 can also receive the RSV immunization Beyfortus.
Visit Hamilton.ca/RSV for more information about protecting your baby from RSV.
- Dates: Monday December, 16 to Thursday, December 19, 2024
- Times: 9 am to 11:30 am & 1 to 3:30 pm
- Location: Jackson Square Unit 610 Phase 2 Plaza Level
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
Clinics for students at risk of suspension on January 24, 2025:
January 22, 2025
Clinic 1: 110 King Street West, 2nd floor of Robert Thomson Building. Booked appointments only.
Clinic 2: Sir Winston Churchill Recreation Centre. 1709 Main St E, Hamilton, ON L8H 1E3. Booked appointments only.
Clinic 3: Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre. 876 Cannon St E, Hamilton, ON L8L 0C6. Booked appointments only.
January 23, 2025
Clinic 1: Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre. 876 Cannon St E, Hamilton, ON L8L 0C6. Booked appointments only.
Clinic 2: East End Public Health Clinic. 247 Centennial parkway N, Hamilton, L8E 2X3. Booked appointments only.
January 24, 2025
Clinic 1: Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre. 876 Cannon St E, Hamilton, ON L8L 0C6. Booked appointments and walk in appointments available. Please note that walk in clients will be accommodated on a first come first serve basis.
Clinic 2: Sir Winston Churchill Recreation Centre. 1709 Main St E, Hamilton, ON L8H 1E3. Booked appointments only.
January 27, 2025
Clinic 1: Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre. 876 Cannon St E, Hamilton, ON L8L 0C6. Booked appointments and walk in appointments available. Please note that walk in clients will be accommodated on a first come first serve basis.
Clinic 2: Sir Winston Churchill Recreation Centre. 1709 Main St E, Hamilton, ON L8H 1E3. Booked appointments only.
January 28, 2025
Clinic 1: 110 King Street West, 2nd floor of Robert Thomson Building. Booked appointments only.
Clinic 2: Sir Winston Churchill Recreation Centre. 1709 Main St E, Hamilton, ON L8H 1E3. Booked appointments only.
Clinic 3: Bernie Morelli Recreation Centre. 876 Cannon St E, Hamilton, ON L8L 0C6. Booked appointments only.
January 29, 2025
Clinic 1: 110 King Street West, 2nd floor of Robert Thomson Building. Booked appointments only.
January 30, 2025
Clinic 1: 110 King Street West, 2nd floor of Robert Thomson Building. Booked appointments only.
Clinic 2: East End Public Health Clinic. 247 Centennial parkway N, Hamilton, L8E 2X3. Booked appointments only.
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