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Please call your local APH office to book an appointment.

The Immunization of School Pupils Act R.S.O. 1990 (ISPA) is the Ontario law that requires students to have up-to-date vaccinations (or a valid statement of exemption for medical reasons, reasons of conscience or religious beliefs) in order to attend school. Under ISPA legislation, students can be suspended from school if they do not have all the required vaccinations for; diphtheria, polio, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease, and pertussis (whooping cough). Children born after January 1, 2010, are also required to be vaccinated against varicella (chicken pox).

Immunization protects your child from vaccine preventable diseases that can have serious and life-threatening consequences and significantly reduces the risk of outbreaks in schools. In accordance with this law, Algoma Public Health is required to enforce the legislation. Enforcement is conducted through a process where the last step is a suspension order.

Algoma Public Health will send immunization reminders and then issue orders to school principals to suspend students if records are incomplete after the deadline.

Virtual learners are still required to receive necessary vaccines; however, a suspension will not be ordered.

The vaccines that are mandatory for school attendance in Ontario are:

1. Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio (available in a combination vaccine: (Adacel®-Polio, Adacel®)
2. Measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (available in a combination vaccine: (Priorix-Tetra®, ProQuad®)
3. Meningococcal disease (12 months to <12 years of age: (Menjugate® Liquid NeisVac-C®; grade 7 vaccines: Menactra®, Menveo®, Nimenrix®).
4. Varicella – for children born in 2010 or later (Varilrix®, Varivax®)

It is the parents/guardians’ responsibility to report their child’s immunizations to Algoma Public Health. Although some health care providers’ offices do report children’s immunizations, they are not required to do so.

Parents and guardians can take the following steps to ensure that their child meets the immunization requirements:

• Check with their health care provider to ensure their child’s immunization record is up to date.
• Ensure that their child’s updated immunization record has been reported to Algoma Public Health.

Parents and guardians of students 15 years of age and younger can access and update their child’s immunization record by logging into www.algomapublichealth.com/icon. Students 16 years of age and older can access and update their own records at www.algomapublichealth.com/icon.

When a child is first registered at a school, the school may take a copy of the immunization record and send it to us. However, when children receive further vaccinations, these must be reported by parents or guardians. Reporting will ensure students’ records are up to date with the vaccinations that are required to attend school.

• Online: the online reporting tool is available at www.algomapublichealth.com/icon
• In person: bring a copy of your child’s immunization record to any of our locations during regular business hours www.algomapublichealth.com/contact-us
• By phone: call your local APH office
• Fax a copy of your child’s record: 705-541-5959
• Mail a copy of your child’s record to our address:

Algoma Public Health Attention: Immunization Program

294 Willow Avenue Sault Ste. Marie, ON P6B 0A9

• Email: immunizations@algomapublichealth.com (include child's name and date of birth)

Please note: If you are sending us personal information by email, please be aware that electronic communication is not always secure and can be vulnerable to interception.

• If you have a healthcare provider, make an appointment directly with them for the required vaccine(s). After the appointment, please submit the vaccination record to APH.
• If you do not have a healthcare provider, a walk-in clinic may be able to provide routine immunization. Call your local walk-in clinic to see if this is an option.
• Call your local APH office

You must obtain a written copy of the vaccine record and contact Algoma Public Health to report the vaccines.

Many serious and deadly diseases can be prevented by vaccines. We encourage parents and guardians to ensure their child is protected against vaccine preventable diseases. This protects not only your children, but other children in their school as well. If, however, parents or guardians require a vaccine exemption for their child there are two types:

• Statement of Medical Exemption: This form must be completed and signed by a physician or nurse practitioner, stating the reason for the medical exemption.
• Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief: The affidavit must be sworn by a Commissioner of Oaths. Parents and guardians must also complete an education session on immunization.

Both forms can be accessed and downloaded - Legislation/ Exemption from Immunization. Parents and guardians can contact Algoma Public Health for assistance with this process. The completed exemption forms must be submitted to Algoma Public Health. For your protection, students who do not have the required vaccinations may be restricted from attending school in the event of an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease.

The suspension may last for up to 20 school days until records are provided, reviewed, and approved by Algoma Public Health. The suspension may be re-issued for additional periods of up to 20 days if the information is not received.

Please call your local APH office.