Access or Update Immunization Information
Every time your child gets immunized against designated diseases under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) or Ontario's Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule (which includes most routine childhood vaccines), please contact York Region Public Health (YRPH) so we can update your child's immunization information on file.
Learn more about updating and accessing immunization information for school-aged children and children in child care centres.
Update and access your child's reported immunization records with York Region Public Health online on Immunization
Connect Ontario (ICON). Your health care provider does not provide us with your child’s immunizations.
Update Immunization Records Online
You may also provide your child’s up-to-date immunization information by:
- Sending a fax to 1-866-258-2026
- Calling York Region Public Health at 1-877-464-9675, ext. 73456
- Mailing immunization information to: York Region Public Health, Immunization Services, 17150 Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Newmarket, ON L3Y 8V3
Information for School-Aged Children
Immunization requirements for students less than 18 years of age attending school
The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA)
The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) outlines immunization requirements for children attending school in Ontario.
In Ontario's routine immunization schedule, vaccines are free of charge if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Children attending private or a publicly-funded school are required to have proof of immunization against the following diseases unless a valid exemption is provided:
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Polio
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Measles
- Mumps
- Rubella
- Meningococcal disease
- Varicella (chicken pox) (for students born in or after 2010)
To meet the requirements under ISPA, a child’s immunization record must show that all the required vaccine doses were received at the correct age.
York Region Public Health reviews the immunization information on file for all students to ensure they are up to date for these diseases.
Neither health care providers nor schools provide this information to York Region Public Health. Parents/guardians are required to inform York Region Public Health when their child(ren) receives an immunization against any of the nine designated diseases.
What happens when the immunization information on file isn’t up to date?
For students under 18 years of age, York Region Public Health sends letters to students’ parents or guardians when immunization information on file with public health is not up to date. You need to review your child’s immunization record (yellow card) to ensure they are immunized against vaccine-preventable diseases as required under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA).
Parents/guardians of students who attend school in York Region need to provide York Region Public Health with the name of the vaccine(s) and the date(s) given (year, month and day) or a valid exemption form. Immunization information on file with public health can be updated by:
- Going online to Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON)
- Faxing to 1-866-258-2026
- Calling York Region Public Health at 1-877-464-9675 ext. 73456
- Mail immunization information to: York Region Public Health, Immunization Services, 17150 Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Newmarket, ON L3Y 8V3
If you continue to receive letters from York Region Public Health, but you believe your child has all the required immunizations, please contact us at 1-877-464-9675 ext. 73456.
Students with incomplete immunization information on file may be suspended from school. The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) outlines that students may be suspended for up to 20 school days if the immunization information is not up to date or a valid exemption is not on file.
York Region Public Health supports parents/guardians and students in reducing the risk of school suspension by providing public health immunization clinics for students to obtain the required immunizations.
Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) communication sent to parents/guardians
An Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) notice is being sent to all parents/guardians to inform them of the requirements to submit their child’s up-to-date immunization records to York Region Public Health.
ISPA notice is available in other languages: French, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Farsi
If York Region Public Health has not received a student’s up-to-date immunization record, a first letter is sent to parents/guardians of children who were born in 2015 and 2016 (7 and 8 year olds) to their place of residence to inform them of the requirement to submit the immunization records on or by a specific date, otherwise their child is at risk of being suspended from school.
The first letter is available in other languages: French, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, and Farsi
If a parent/guardian does not provide their child’s up-to-date immunization records by a specific date, a second and final notice, including a suspension order is sent directly to the parent/guardian’s place of residence. The student’s school is also notified of the suspension order.
Why did I get a notice if I already provided up-to-date immunization records to York Region Public Health?
If a parent/guardian has recently provided their child’s immunization status and receives another notice from York Region Public Health, we may need additional information. Please follow the instructions on the notice or contact us at 1-877-464-9675 ext. 73456 for more information. Other reasons you may have received a notice:
York Region Public Health does not have a record of all the required vaccines under the Immunization of School Pupils Act.
Your child may have received all the required immunizations, but York Region Public Health may not have all the up-to-date information. After your child has registered for school, the parent/guardian is required to provide the child’s up-to-date immunization information to York Region Public Health each time the child is immunized.
Health care providers and schools do not report student immunization information to York Region Public Health.
Your child may not have received all the required immunizations under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA).
To meet the immunization requirements under ISPA, a child’s immunization record must show all of the required vaccine doses have been received at the correct age. For example, if your child was immunized outside of Ontario, they may not have received the required immunizations at the correct age and may be required to receive another vaccine dose.
Immunization Exemptions for ISPA
There are two different exemption forms available for a child attending school in York Region.
Please complete the correct form based on your reason.
For children attending school:
- Statement of medical exemption form
- Non-medical exemption form (statement of conscience or religious reasons)
Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), Ontario parents and guardians who choose not to immunize their child for non-medical reasons are required to watch an immunization education video and complete the statement of conscience or religious belief form for schools.
Please do the following to complete the process:
- Watch the Vaccine Education Video
- Complete the Vaccine Education Attestation Form – once submitted, a copy will be sent to the email address you provided and to imms1@york.ca. You will receive a Vaccine Education Certificate via encrypted email (from imms1@york.ca) within 5 business days after completion of the attestation form
- Submit the affirmed, Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief form with the vaccine education certificate to imms1@york.ca
For more information on immunization exemptions, contact York Region Public Health at 1-877-464-9675, ext. 73456.
Information for Children in Child Care Centres
Immunizations Requirements for Licensed Child Care
The Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA) outlines immunization requirements for children attending licensed child care centres in Ontario.
Children attending a licensed child care centre are required to have proof of immunization against the following diseases, unless a valid exemption is provided:
- Diphtheria
- Tetanus
- Polio
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Haemophilus influenza type (Hib) B
- Pneumococcal
- Rotavirus
- Measles, mumps and rubella
- Varicella (chickenpox)
- Meningococcal – Type C
The timing to receive these required immunizations is outlined in Ontario's Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule. Once a child is enrolled in school, the CCEYA does not apply.
Licensed child care centre operators are required to collect and keep immunization information onsite for each child attending their centre. York Region Public Health will request immunization information directly from the licensed child care centre operator and will review each child's immunization information annually.
Parents or guardians will be notified by York Region Public Health if a child is missing required immunizations or a valid exemption. Review more information about exemptions.
Immunization Exemptions for Licensed Child Care
There are two different exemption forms available for a child attending a licensed child care centre or a school in York Region.
Please complete the correct form based on your reason.
For children in licensed child care:
- Statement of medical exemption
- Non-medical exemption form (statement of conscience or religious reasons)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I submit my child’s immunization information in Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON)?
To submit your child's immunization information to York Region Public Health (YRPH) in ICON, you will need your child’s Ontario Health Card Number (OHCN) or an Ontario Immunization Identification (OIID).
After the Health Card matches are confirmed, you will be asked to create a PIN. Remember to keep your PIN in a safe spot for logging in to ICON in the future.
If you are experiencing problems using the OHCN, you will need to have an OIID number. See the next section for more information.
Note: In ICON, it can take up to five business days before any updates appear on your child’s record through the “View Immunizations” feature. You may call us at 1-877-464-9675, ext. 73456 if it is longer than five business days.
Important information for first-time users using OIID
If you choose not to use your child’s OHCN or experience problems using the OHCN, you will need to obtain an OIID to submit the immunization.
Please contact us at 1-877-464-9675, ext. 73456 to obtain an OIID and a personal identification number (PIN). The PIN is required to verify the information in ICON.
Where do I provide my child’s immunization information if they attend a school outside of York Region?
If your child resides in York Region but attends a school outside York Region, such as Toronto, please upload your child’s immunization information to Toronto Public Health’s ICON.
Alternatively, if you reside outside of York Region and your child attends a school in York Region, you are required to provide their immunization information to York Region Public Health. If you uploaded the immunization information into a different ICON based on where you reside, York Region Public Health cannot access it until it is processed by the other public health unit. This process may take several business days.
What do I do if I can no longer access my child’s immunization record, such as if my child’s physician is now retired?
Contact your physician’s office or the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario if your physician’s office/clinic is no longer open (operational).
If you are submitting a request for a record or submitting an immunization record, the following information should be included:
- First and last name
- Date of birth
- Address and phone number
- School attending (if applicable)
Under ISPA, nine designated diseases are required (Varicella for those born after January 1, 2010). Proof of vaccination should include these diseases and all doses required in the vaccine series.
How do I obtain a copy of my child’s immunization record?
The best way to access your child's record is by using the online tool: Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON)
To view or print your child's immunization record at York Region Public Health (YRPH) using ICON, you can enter your child’s:
- Ontario Health Card Number or
- an Ontario Immunization ID (OIID). If you do not have your child's OIID, you can call YRPH at 1-877-464-9675, ext. 73456 to obtain one. We will also provide a personal identification number (PIN) that will be used to verify the information in ICON
After inputting your child’s health card number and a PIN:
- Review the next page which will show your child’s immunization records that are on file with YRPH, and any other records required
- Select “printable PDF version of immunization records” to print this information for your files
You can also call YRPH to request a copy of your child's immunization record. It will take up to five business days to process your request.
Note: Your child's immunization record at YRPH only contains immunizations reported by yourself and immunizations administered by a public health nurse, for example, at a school immunization clinic. Your child may have received additional immunizations, please submit any missing information to YRPH to ensure your child's immunization record is up to date.
Where students can receive required immunizations
York Region Public Health is currently providing free student catch-up immunizations
For all other publicly funded immunizations in Ontario, please visit your health care provider’s office or a walk-in medical clinic.
To find a health care provider, use the Health Care Connect program.
My child does not have an Ontario Health Card (OHIP) how can I get them immunized?
Children without an Ontario Health Card are still able to get immunized at our school-based clinics and/or student catch-up clinics.
Families are encouraged to bring all immunization records to the appointment so that one of our Public Health Nurses can assess the records and determine if your child is missing any doses.
Is it okay if my child receives multiple immunizations at the same time?
Yes, your child’s immune system can safely and effectively handle receiving many vaccines at once. Receiving multiple vaccines is safe, convenient, and ensures the best protection for your child at the earliest age possible.
Why should I immunize my child and why does York Region Public Health need to know?
Immunization is one of the safest ways to protect you, your family and your community from many serious and potentially deadly vaccine preventable diseases. When immunized, a child’s body can fight serious disease and also prevent the disease from spreading to others who are not vaccinated (e.g., due to age, underlying medical conditions, allergies).
Child care and school settings are common places for vaccine preventable diseases to spread. To help keep kids safe, laws in Ontario require that children get certain immunizations to attend daycare and school.
If there is an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease at a licensed child care centre or school, York Region Public Health staff will review the immunization information on file for any children exposed to the infectious person to figure out who has not been immunized and is at risk of becoming ill. Children or students whose immunization for that specific infection is not up-to-date may be excluded (i.e., asked to stay home during the outbreak) from the child care centre or school during the outbreak. For this reason, it is important that your child’s immunizations be up-to-date and on file with York Region Public Health.
External Resources
- Immunize.ca – learn more about immunization
- Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA)
- Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA)
- Ontario.ca/vaccines – includes information about Ontario’s vaccine schedule and vaccine safety, plus videos on the importance of getting vaccinated.
- Ontario's Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule
- Immunization School Checklist
