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Updating School Immunizations
Information for parents and guardians who received a letter from APH
Childcare and school settings are common places for vaccine preventable diseases to spread if immunization rates are low. To help keep kids safe, the law in Ontario requires that children get certain immunizations to attend daycare and school.
Algoma Public Health is in the process of reviewing student immunization records and will be implementing processes in accordance with the Immunization of School Pupils Act for the 2023/2024 school year. The following information provided in this letter will give an overview of the steps that will be taken in this process.
Letters mailed by APH to parents and guardians:
Suspension dates by school group
Expected date to receive letter: March 4 - 11, 2024
Suspension start date: April 8, 2024
Suspension end date: May 3, 2024
Sault Ste. Marie
- Anna McCrea Public School
- Ben R. McMullin Public School
- Kiwedin Public School
- Mountain View Public School
- Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
- St. Basil Catholic Elementary School
- Superior Heights Collegiate & Vocational School
- Superior Heights Community Education
- Superior Heights Intermediate
Wawa
- École elementaire catholique Saint-Joseph
- École publique l’Escalade
- École secondaire catholique Saint-Joseph
- Michipicoten High School
- Sir James Dunn Public School
- St. Augustine French Immersion Catholic School
Dubreuilville
- École St-Joseph
- École secondaire l'Orée des Bois
White River
- St. Basil's Catholic School
Expected date to receive letter: March 11 - 18, 2024
Suspension start date: April 15, 2024
Suspension end date: May 10, 2024
Sault Ste. Marie
- East View Public School
- Holy Cross Catholic School
- Northern Heights Public School
- R.M. Moore Public School
- St. Francis French Immersion Catholic School
- St. Joseph Island Central Public School
- St. Mary's College
- St. Mary's French Immersion Catholic School
Blind River
- Blind River Public School
- École élémentaire catholique Saint-Joseph
- École publique des Pins Blancs
- École secondaire catholique Jeunesse-Nord
- St. Mary's Catholic School
- W.C. Eaket Secondary School
Thessalon
- Thessalon Public School
Expected date to receive letter: March 18 - 25, 2024
Suspension start date: April 22, 2024
Suspension end date: May 17, 2024
Sault Ste. Marie
- École élémentaire Notre-Dame-du-Sault
- École secondaire Notre-Dame-du-Sault
- École publique Écho-des-Rapides
- Grand View Public School
- Korah Collegiate & Vocational School
- Korah Intermediate
- Tarentorus Public School
Elliot Lake
- Central Avenue Public School
- École élémentaire catholique Georges-Vanier
- École publique des Villageois
- École secondaire Villa Française des Jeunes
- Elliot Lake Intermediate
- Elliot Lake Secondary School
- Esten Park French Immersion Public School
- Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School
- Our Lady of Lourdes French Immersion Catholic School
Expected date to receive letter: March 25 - April 1, 2024
Suspension start date: April 29, 2024
Suspension end date: May 27, 2024
Sault Ste. Marie
- Boreal French Immersion Public School
- Central Algoma Elementary School
- Central Algoma Intermediate School
- Central Algoma Secondary School
- Pinewood Public School
- River View Public School
- St. Paul Catholic School
- White Pines Collegiate & Vocational School
- White Pines Intermediate
Expected date to receive letter: April 1 - 8, 2024
Suspension start date: May 6, 2024
Suspension end date: June 3, 2024
Sault Ste. Marie
- Echo Bay Central School
- F.H. Clergue French Immersion Public School
- Greenwood Public School
- H.M. Robbins Public School
- Holy Family Catholic School
- Isabel Fletcher Public School
- Parkland Public School
- Queen Elizabeth Public School
We are currently experiencing a high call volume with the Sault Ste. Marie Immunization phoneline. You can leave a message and we will return your call.
If your child(ren) requires a vaccine:
Option 1: 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.
Option 2: 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.
Option 3: Call your local APH office to book an appointment.
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.
View community catch-up clinics in Sault Ste. Marie and across the district
DATE | LOCATION | TIME | Appointment Status |
Apr 23 | APH - 294 Willow Ave. | 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm | Fully booked |
Apr 27 | APH - 294 Willow Ave. | 9:00 am - 4:00 pm | Fully booked |
Apr 30 | APH - 294 Willow Ave. | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm | Fully booked |
May 2 | APH - 294 Willow Ave | 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm | Fully booked |
May 9 | APH - 294 Willow Ave. | 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm | Fully booked |
May 10 | APH - 294 Willow Ave | 8:30 pm - 12:00 pm | Fully booked |
May 11 | APH - 294 Willow Ave. | 9:00 am - 4:00 pm |
Fully booked |
May 14 | APH - 294 Willow Ave. | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm | Fully booked |
May 16 | APH - 294 Willow Ave | 8:30 pm - 12:00 pm | Fully booked |
May 21 | APH - 294 Willow Ave. | 5:00 pm - 7:30 pm | Fully booked |
May 23 | APH - 294 Willow Ave. | 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm | Fully booked |
May 24 | APH - 294 Willow Ave. | 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm | Fully booked |
May 25 | APH - 294 Willow Ave. | 9:00 am - 4:00 pm | Fully booked |
May 28 | APH - 294 Willow Ave. | 9:00 am - 12:00 pm | Fully booked |
May 30 | APH - 294 Willow Ave. | 1:00 pm - 6:00 pm | Fully booked |
May 31 | APH - 294 Willow Ave. | 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm | Fully booked |
June 6 | APH - 294 Willow Ave. | 2:00 pm - 7:30 pm | Fully booked |
June 13 | APH - 294 Willow Ave. | 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm | Fully booked |
June 20 | APH - 294 Willow Ave. | 2:00 pm - 7:30 pm | Fully booked |
June 27 | APH - 294 Willow Ave. | 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm | Fully booked |
Please call your local APH office to book an appointment.
DATE | LOCATION | TIME | Appointment Status |
May 14 | Elliot Lake - APH Office - 302-31 Nova Scotia Walk (ELNOS) | 9:00 am - 4:00 pm | Appointments available |
May 29 | Blind River - APH Office - 9B Lawton St. | 9:30 am - 3:30 pm | Appointments available |
Questions and Answers for parents and legal guardians:
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:
- Diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio (available in a combination vaccine: (Adacel®-Polio, Adacel®)
- Measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (available in a combination vaccine: (Priorix-Tetra®, ProQuad®)
- Meningococcal disease (12 months to <12 years of age: (Menjugate® Liquid NeisVac-C®; grade 7 vaccines: Menactra®, Menveo®, Nimenrix®).
- 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.