Add Vaccines to Your Back-to-School Checklist

As families get ready for the new school year, Algoma Public Health (APH) is reminding parents to make sure their children's immunizations are up to date. Childcare and school settings are common places for vaccine preventable diseases to spread if immunization rates are low. Keeping up routine vaccinations is one of the most effective ways to protect your child's health and helps ensure a smooth return to school, sports, clubs, and other extracurricular activities.

Are Your Child’s Immunizations Up to Date?

• To protect kids, Ontario law requires certain immunizations for daycare and school attendance. Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), R.S.O. 1990, students who do not meet vaccination requirements may be suspended from school.
• APH will send immunization reminders throughout the year and will issue orders to school principals to suspend students if records are incomplete after the deadline.

APH will be issuing overdue notices this fall for students who are overdue for required vaccinations. If you receive one of these letters, your child may be missing these vaccines, or APH may not have an updated immunization record on file.

How to Catch Up on Immunizations

1. Book an appointment with your health care provider.
2. Families without a health care provider can book an immunization appointment at your local APH office

How to Book an Immunization Appointment

To book an appointment at APH, contact your local public health office.

• Blind River – 705-356-2551 
• Elliot Lake – 705-848-2314
• Sault Ste. Marie – 705-759-5409
• Wawa – 705-856-7208

Check and Update Your Child’s Immunization Record

You can check your child’s immunization record online at www.algomapublichealth/icon.

It’s important to ensure your child’s immunization record is up to date. If your child has received vaccinations outside of the health unit, you must submit this missing information.

How to Update Your Child's Immunization Record:

You can easily submit any missing vaccine information:

 

• 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, fax or mail: www.algomapublichealth.com/contact-us
• Email: records@algomapublichealth.com

(Please include child’s name and date of birth in email). If you are sending personal information by email, be aware that electronic communication is not always secure and can be vulnerable to interception.

Use the Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) Website for Convenience

Stay organized with the ICON website (www.algomapublichealth.com/icon) to keep track of your child’s immunization records, or to submit immunizations your child has received outside of APH.