School Immunization Program

Where to Get Vaccinated

Read about the benefits of receiving these vaccines, and review the hepatitis B, human papillomavirus (HPV) and meningococcal vaccine fact sheets for more information. Talk to a health care provider if you have any questions or concerns.

There are many ways your child can get vaccinated:

• Grade 7 and 8 students can can get vaccinated during school hours through SIP clinics.
• TPH hosts community clinics by appointment for students in grades JK to 12 who live or go to school in Toronto to catch up on their school-based vaccines (SIP and ISPA).
• Health care providers can order vaccines from TPH for eligible students. Parents/guardians need to report vaccines received from health care providers to TPH.

Benefits of Vaccination

Vaccines are safe, effective and one of the most important ways to improve health worldwide and prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Vaccinating children and youth helps protect them against serious diseases and some cancers, and can prevent them from passing on an infection to other vulnerable people in their family or school community.

The vaccines offered to students in school are safe and protect them from:

• Meningitis (brain infection) and septicemia (blood infection) from meningococcal bacteria
• Liver cancer from the hepatitis B virus
• Cancers caused by the human papillomavirus

Prevent Meningitis

Meningococcal disease is very rare, but it can quickly become life threatening. It is the leading cause of bacterial meningitis in teens and young adults. The bacteria infects the lining of the brain and can lead to strokes, hearing loss, seizures or blood infection. This vaccine is required to attend school in Ontario, and may be needed for travel and/or postsecondary education.

Meningococcal vaccines are 80 to 85 per cent effective at protecting against four types of bacteria that cause meningitis.

Prevent Liver Cancer

The hepatitis B virus is spread by infected body fluids. This can include improper cleaning of spa, tattoo, medical and dental instruments. Many people with hepatitis B may not have symptoms and can still continue to spread the infection to others. Some infections can cause permanent liver damage, cirrhosis and cancer. This vaccine is recommended before travel and when working in some industries, like health care.

Hepatitis B vaccines are over 95 per cent effective at protecting against hepatitis B after completing the vaccine series.

Students 11 to 15 years of age need two doses, given six months apart to complete the series. Students aged 16 and older will need a third dose. Students with a weak immune system may need additional doses.

Prevent Other Cancers

There are different types of human papillomavirus (HPV). Many people do not know they are infected and never have symptoms. Human papillomavirus infections can cause cancers of the mouth, head, neck, cervix, and genitals.

The HPV vaccine (Gardasil®-9) is over 95 per cent effective at protecting against nine types of HPV infections. Students ages nine to 14 years old are given two doses, six months apart. Students with a weak immune system may require additional doses.

Eligibility

These school-based vaccines are free (publicly funded) at SIP clinics or by appointment at TPH community clinics and some health care provider offices. Health care providers can order vaccines for eligible students.

Vaccine	Eligibility	Notes
Hep B (Recombivax® or Engerix®)	All grade 7 to 12 students	Two doses are needed to complete the series. Students with a weak immune system may need additional doses. See the Canadian Immunization Guide.
HPV9 (Gardasil® 9)	All grade 7 to 12 students	Two doses are given. Students with a weak immune system may need additional doses.
MenACYW (Nimenrix®, Menactra®, MenQuadfi®)	All grade 7 to 12 students and those born in or after 1997	One dose.

School Immunization Program Resources

SIP information and consent packages are sent to families through their schools. You can also download them below and review other resources to help you prepare.

• School Immunization Program Vaccine Pamphlet (also available in French)
• School Immunization Vaccine Consent Form (also available in French)
• School Immunization Program - Checklist (also available in French)
• Making Vaccines Easier for Teens (also available in French)

Preparing for SIP School Clinics

• Read the vaccine fact sheets: hepatitis B, human papillomavirus, and meningococcal. Talk to health care provider if you have any questions or concerns.
• Fully complete and sign the vaccine consent form (more details below) for each student, even if you do not want your child to be vaccinated.
  • Students in grade 7 are given the consent package at school to take home.
  • Grade 8 students who submitted a consent form and missed one or more SIP clinics in grade 7 will be called down to the clinic.
  • Grade 8 students who did not receive or return a consent form in grade 7 are still eligible to receive SIP vaccines if they print and return the completed consent form to the school before the clinic date.
• On the day of the clinic, students should wear a loose-sleeved or short sleeve shirt and eat something before the clinic.
• Students can get all three vaccines on the same day. The vaccines are safe, effective and well tolerated.

Completing the Vaccine Consent Form

The consent form must be signed by the student’s parent/legal guardian. Signed consent forms need to be returned to the student’s teacher as soon as possible before the SIP clinic date. Consent forms submitted to TPH for SIP vaccines are valid for two years.

Step 1: Student Information

All fields should be filled out including:

• Student’s full name (first and last), date of birth, and other personal information,
• Parent/guardian name and phone number, and,
• Name of student’s teacher and school.

Step 2: Student Vaccination History

• Circle the name(s) of the vaccine(s) your child has already received and provide the date(s) they were given.
• If you’re unsure if your child has received these vaccines before (for example, if you purchased the vaccine for travel or if they were vaccinated in another country), you can look at your child’s vaccination record. If you are unable to find it, you can contact your child’s health care provider for their vaccination records or see if they’re on Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON).
• If you’re unsure which vaccine(s) your child needs, please still sign and return the child’s consent form. TPH will assess if your child is up to date with their vaccinations or if additional doses are needed.

Step 3: Health History

• Check off “Yes” or “No” for each question about your child’s health.
• Explain any “Yes” responses.

Step 4: Consent for Vaccination

• Check off “Yes” for each vaccine you give permission for your child to receive.
• Check off “No” for any vaccine(s) you do not give permission for your child to receive.
• Sign and date the form.

Report Vaccinations to Toronto Public Health

If students received hepatitis B, human papillomavirus (HPV), and meningococcal vaccines from a health care provider other than Toronto Public Health, please report these vaccination(s) to TPH online.

Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA)

Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA)  requires that students be vaccinated against nine designated diseases or have a valid exemption. These routine childhood vaccines are based on Ontario’s Immunization Schedule and include meningococcal vaccines.

There are two different meningococcal vaccines that are part of Ontario’s Immunization Schedule. The meningococcal-C vaccine (MenC) is for children under 12 years of age and is usually given at 12 months of age. The meningococcal-quadrivalent vaccine (MenACYW) is for students in grades 7 to 12 and is given through SIP. Students need both meningococcal vaccines, based on their age, to attend school.

Parents/legal guardians or students 16 years of age and older are responsible for reporting student vaccinations to TPH every time the student gets a vaccine. Health care providers, such as doctors or nurses, are not required to report vaccines to TPH. Learn more and get help on how to submit vaccine records.

Reporting hepatitis B and HPV vaccines is not required under the ISPA, but is recommended as it helps students by:

• Ensuring their medical records are complete with TPH
• Keeping an updated list of their vaccinations if they need it (e.g. to volunteer or work at a health care facility or to travel)

Childhood Vaccines – Quick Reference Guide

Learn more about the free vaccines available for children. Some of these vaccines are required for children to attend school and childcare, or have a valid exemption.