Ottawa Public Health reminds families to update routine childhood vaccination records

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is reminding families across the city about the importance of keeping routine childhood vaccinations up to date and ensuring that immunization records are accurately reported. These measures play a vital role in keeping Ottawa schools safe and protecting students from vaccine‑preventable diseases.

Each year, OPH conducts vaccine surveillance to review student vaccine records and confirm that they meet the requirements outlined in Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA). This review allows OPH to identify students whose records may be incomplete or out of date and notify families early, helping prevent outbreaks and protecting those most at risk. Currently, many student records remain incomplete.

Earlier this fall, OPH issued approximately 15,000 first notices to students born in 2008 and 2018 (seven - and 17-year-olds), informing families that their child’s vaccine record on file with OPH was incomplete. These notices specify which vaccines appear to be missing and outline how to update the record. In many cases, the required vaccines have already been received, but OPH has not yet been notified. Families were notified that they had one month to update the record before a second notice, which includes a Suspension Order, is issued. Before any suspension is implemented, OPH’s focus is on ensuring families understand how to verify their records, obtain any missing routine vaccinations, and report updated information to OPH.

The issuing of those second notices started in December and will continue through February. Families receiving a second notice have an additional month to provide updated records before a suspension takes effect. Student suspensions began in mid‑January and will continue through March, aligned with a staggered schedule by school board, for students who do not respond to either notice.

This is an important reminder to all parents to ensure their child’s vaccine record is up to date, here’s how:

1. Check your child’s vaccine record. Compare the records you have with the Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule to make sure it is up to date. To attend school in Ontario, students must be vaccinated against nine vaccine-preventable diseases including diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough), polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal, and varicella (for students born in 2010 or later) or provide a valid exemption.
2. Report your child’s vaccine(s) to Ottawa Public Health (OPH). It is possible that your child is up to date on their vaccines, but OPH is missing information. Your healthcare provider does not report your child's vaccinations to OPH. There are several ways you can update your child’s immunization record, including submitting their records online, through the Immunization Connect Ontario Tool (ICON), or the CANImmunize App.
3. Get your child vaccinated if they’re missing any routine vaccines. Your child’s healthcare provider is the primary and recommended source for all routine vaccinations. Speak to your child’s healthcare provider and have them vaccinated with any missing vaccines. Families facing barriers to accessing routine vaccinations or those who don’t have a healthcare provider can book an appointment at one of the Kids Come First clinics. Additionally, OPH offers drop-in clinics at the Neighbourhood Health and Wellness Hubs.

Keeping vaccinations up to date helps protect your child, their classmates, and the broader community. OPH is continuously working to support immunization in our community, focusing on providing support, education, and increasing access to help families catch up and decrease barriers to vaccination. 

OPH also recognizes that some parents may have questions about vaccines or may encounter misinformation online. Vaccines are safe, rigorously monitored, and highly effective at preventing serious illness. Parents and guardians are encouraged to speak with their child’s health care provider if they have concerns or want to better understand how vaccines work. Trusted health professionals can help families make informed decisions based on accurate, evidence‑based information. 

Parents can visit ParentingInOttawa.ca/Immunization for more information on routine vaccines, where to get routine vaccines, and how to report routine vaccines to OPH. Residents can also connect with OPH on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky and YouTube.