Today, Mayor Olivia Chow officially proclaimed National Immunization Awareness Week in Toronto. This week, Toronto Public Health (TPH) is encouraging residents to catch up on all routine and other lifesaving immunizations for which they are eligible.
National Immunization Awareness Week – which coincides with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) World Immunization Week – highlights the importance of staying up to date on recommended vaccinations from infancy to adulthood.
TPH supports catch up programs for routine immunizations in school-aged children and encourages adults to check their immunization status to stay up to date on their vaccines. TPH and community partners continue to hold clinics to facilitate access to vaccinations.
Students in grades seven to 12 who have not yet received vaccines for human papillomavirus (HPV), meningococcal and hepatitis B (Hep B) can access them through the SIP. Students in grades seven and eight can access school-based clinics during regular school hours. Students in grades nine to 12 who missed these vaccines at school can visit a community clinic. More information is available on the City’s School Immunization Program webpage.
Children from four to 17 years of age can catch up on their routine childhood vaccines as part of Ontario’s ISPA. Under ISPA, parents and guardians are required to submit records of their child’s routine childhood vaccines or a valid exemption for diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease, pertussis (whooping cough) and varicella (chickenpox).
Parents are responsible for reporting their child’s vaccinations to TPH through the Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON). TPH assesses vaccination records to ensure students are up to date and continues to inform families about potentially missing doses for them to can catch up and report on these vaccines. More information is available on the City’s ISPA webpage. Vaccines under SIP and ISPA are free for school-aged children and an OHIP card is not required. To book an appointment, visit the City’s TPH Appointment Booking System webpage.
TPH encourages eligible residents to get vaccinated against mpox due to a rise in cases this year.
Mpox vaccines are offered at TPH Scarborough Sexual Health Clinic for those accessing sexual health care services. The vaccine is free and no OHIP card is required. Eligibility details and updated clinic information are available on the City’s Mpox webpage. Eligible residents can also inquire about vaccine availability where they access sexual health care.
Measles is a highly contagious disease that can spread easily to others. Vaccines are usually administered at 12 months and between four to six years of age. Anyone born in 1970 or later who has not had two doses of a measles vaccine or has not yet contracted measles is at risk of infection.
School-aged children can catch up on their measles vaccine by contacting their primary healthcare provider or book an appointment through TPH: www.TPHbookings.ca. The measles vaccine is also free for adults through their primary care provider. More information is available on the City’s Measles webpage.
Toronto is home to more than three million people whose diversity and experiences make this great city Canada’s leading economic engine and one of the world’s most diverse and livable cities. As the fourth largest city in North America, Toronto is a global leader in technology, finance, film, music, culture and innovation and climate action, and consistently places at the top of international rankings due to investments championed by its government, residents and businesses. For more information visit the City’s website or follow us on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.