Immunization in Schools | Huron Perth Public Health

It is important to get vaccinated when you are eligible, and to stay up-to-date with routine immunizations. Vaccines are safe, effective, and the best way to protect yourself and those around you from vaccine preventable diseases.

The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires all elementary and secondary students in Ontario to receive certain vaccines for school attendance, or to obtain a valid exemption.

Parents/legal guardians are responsible for reporting their child’s immunizations to Public Health.

Immunizations provided in school clinics

Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH) provides in-school immunization clinics for routine grade 7 and grade 10 immunizations, including:

For more information on routine immunizations for schools, please visit the Immunization School Checklist.

NOTE: HPPH will not provide COVID-19 vaccines at school immunization clinics.

Catch-up immunization clinics

HPPH wants to help all students catch up on their routine immunizations. An appointment is required for a catch-up immunization.

We are holding catch-up vaccine clinics at our offices for youth who are:

not up-to-date on their kindergarten routine immunizations
not up-to-date on their Grade 7 routine immunizations
not up-to-date on their Grade 10 routine immunizations
in need of a second dose of HB and/or HPV9 vaccine

Online appointment booking for catch-up immunization clinics

HPPH offers online appointment booking for catch-up immunization clinics. You will need to book a separate appointment for each person being immunized.

Book a catch-up clinic appointment for your child

Second doses of HB and HPV9 are recommended to be given at a minimum interval of six months after the first dose; however, having a longer than recommended interval between vaccine doses will still provide the same immunity.

If you have questions about school immunizations, please email our Immunizations team.

Schedule of catch-up immunization clinics

Schedule of catch-up immunization clinics
Date	Weekday	Community	Clinic location	Clinic hours
Dec. 4, 2024	Wednesday	Listowel	HPPH Listowel Office \| 161 Inkerman Street West	12-3PM
Dec. 5, 2024	Thursday	Stratford	HPPH Stratford Office \| 653 West Gore Street	10AM-12PM and 1:30-3:30PM
Dec. 10, 2024	Tuesday	Wingham	Royal Oaks building \| 131 John Street East	12-4PM
Dec. 12, 2024	Thursday	Clinton	HPPH Clinton Office \| 77722B London Road	2:30-5:30PM

Consent

Consent is required before any vaccine is administered. When sending information to families about school-based immunization clinics, HPPH will provide consent forms for parents/guardians/students to sign. If you need the School Immunization Consent Form for grade 7 immunizations, you can download and print it.
Secondary school students are able to consent for themselves, but parents/legal guardians are encouraged to discuss immunizations with their child and take advantage of the opportunity to get vaccinated at in-school clinics. For information about consent, review the Health Care Consent Act.

Frequently asked questions

Can I take my child to our usual healthcare provider to get these vaccines?

Most healthcare providers do not carry these vaccines. Contact HPPH if you want to make alternate arrangements for your child.

What if my child is afraid of needles?

The nurses who give vaccines at the clinics will work with your child to make their experience as positive as possible. Most students do well with the immunizations even if they were worried before. Having a conversation with your child will help them feel more prepared. Use the CARD system described below. If your child is extremely anxious, you may call HPPH to discuss an alternative arrangement for vaccine administration.

How can I help my child prepare? (the CARD system)

Many people feel nervous before getting a needle. Talking to your children about vaccinations can help to reduce anxiety they may have about getting needles.

Use the CARD System

You can use the CARD (Comfort, Ask, Relax, Distract) System to come up with ideas and a plan to help relax before and during a vaccination.

Comfort | find ways to be comfortable

Validate your child's worries. Talk with them about ways to relax and feel comfortable.
Explain what is happening when you are at the clinic.

Ask | ask questions to be prepared

Answer any questions your child might have; the vaccinator can help with this.

Relax | keep yourself calm

Model relaxation for your child by talking in a calm tone.
Take some deep breaths with your child.
Talk about ways to relax before your appointment.

Distract | shift your attention

Distraction can help with reducing pain and anxiety when receiving a needle.
The most effective distraction requires thinking and doing (some distraction tools are available at our clinics and may be used by our vaccinators).
Calm slow steady talking from one person can be helpful.

What if my child has already received some of these vaccines?

If you know that your child has already received these vaccines, you will need to inform HPPH and provide the date(s) your child received the vaccine(s).

If you are not sure if your child has received any of these vaccines, contact us. We will help you determine if your child needs to be immunized.

Do I get a record of these immunizations?

Yes. After every vaccination your child will receive a record of what vaccine they received that day. Keep the record with your child's other health records.

Are these vaccines safe?

Vaccines undergo a complete review of their safety, quality and effectiveness before they are approved and can be used in Canada. After approval, vaccines are continually monitored through a vaccine safety surveillance program to ensure their safety.