Immunizations for School-Aged Children and Youth

The suspension period for students in Grades 2-5 and High School has ended for the 2023-2024 school year. 

Students in Grades 2-5

For the 2023/24 school year in the District of Thunder Bay, TBDHU will review and assess all Grade 2-5 student immunization records, notify parents/guardians of missing vaccines or information, and offer suspension clinics. TBDHU will also return to the full ISPA process, including the suspension process for students in grades 2-5 who are overdue and whose records remain incomplete.

Please read Dr. Janet DeMille’s letter to parents/guardians of students in grade 2-5 in District communities for more information. 

For students still needing to be immunized, please contact your health care provider. If you do not have a health care provider, call your local TBDHU Branch office to learn more about your vaccination options.

High School Students

For more information on the process for High School students and the timelines for each community, please see the Vaccines for High School Students section below and open the District Communities tab.

• TBDHU hosts school-based vaccine clinics for children in Grade 7 each school year.
• These clinics are the easiest way to keep your child up to date on their vaccines.
• For a list of school visit dates, please see the School Clinic Schedule tabs below, based on where the child attends school.

Consent Process

• Grade 7 students receive a consent form package at their school in the fall to take home.
• Parents/guardians can call TBDHU to provide consent over the phone OR send a signed  consent form to the school office at any time BEFORE the school clinic date.
• Parental consent for vaccines offered in Grade 7 remain active for the duration of your child’s Grade 7 and 8 school years, so that missed vaccines in Grade 7 can be offered at school clinics when your child is in Grade 8.

Missed Clinics

• Students who miss the school visit will receive information in the mail about how to catch up. Additional information is available in the section below Where to get a missing dose of vaccine

Recommended Vaccines

Students are eligible to receive:

• *Meningococcal conjugate (Men-C-ACYW) vaccine (1 dose needed); eligible until the vaccine is received.
• Human papillomavirus (HPV-9) vaccine (2 doses); eligible until August 31 of their Grade 12 year; those who start the series at age 15 and older require 3 doses to complete.
• Hepatitis B vaccine (2 doses needed); students are eligible until August 31 of their Grade 12 year; those who start the series at 16 and older require 3 doses to complete.

*Meningococcal conjugate (Men-C-ACYW) is required for school attendance in Ontario or a valid exemption must on file with TBDHU. For more information, see the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) section at the top of this webpage.

TBDHU visits all schools with Grade 7 students. See below for the 2023/2024 school year clinic schedule.

Second dose clinics will be held approximately 6 months following the first dose clinic.

Parental consent for vaccines offered in Grade 7 remain active for the duration of your child’s Grade 7 and 8 school years, so that missed vaccines in Grade 7 can be offered at school clinics when your child is in Grade 8.

Please note these dates are subject to change.

The TBDHU will be visiting all district community schools with Grade 7 students. 

See below for the 2023/2024 school year clinic schedule.

Second dose clinics will be held approximately 6 months following the first dose clinic.

Parental consent for vaccines offered in Grade 7 remain active for the duration of your child’s Grade 7 and 8 school years, so that missed vaccines in Grade 7 can be offered at school clinics when your child is in Grade 8.

Please note these dates are subject to change.

If you can’t find your child’s immunization package, it can be downloaded from the following links. All materials are available in English and French.

Consents provided in Grade 7 remain valid in Grade 8 if your child missed being immunized in their Grade 7 year. 

• Immunization Consent Form
• Parent Information Letter
• Ontario's Grade 7 School Immunization Program Checklist for Parents

Students in Grade 8 who submitted a consent form while in Grade 7 but did not receive the immunizations can receive the immunizations in Grade 8 at the TBDHU immunization school clinic during the 2023/2024 school year.

Students in Grade 8 who did not submit a consent form while in Grade 7 are also able to receive these immunizations. We encourage parents who did not consent in Grade 7 and who wish for their child to receive these vaccines in Grade 8 to call us at (807) 625-5900 to speak to an immunization nurse. Please see the school clinic calendar tabs below for the details on the dates and times of these school visits across the TBDHU service area.

Ensuring that your child gets their missing doses at a school clinic is an easy way to get them caught up on their vaccines. However, it is recommended that they receive the missed doses as soon as possible by choosing one of the options below.

There is no minimum age of consent for medical treatment in Ontario. Parental consent is encouraged. However, if a high school student attends a school clinic and requests an immunization, TBDHU nurses will assess their capacity to understand the information relevant to making the decision, such as the risks and benefits of the vaccines they are eligible to receive. It is encouraged to talk to your child about the vaccines they are eligible to receive and the options for consenting.

School Clinic Calendar

TBDHU visits high schools once per school year to offer the Tdap vaccine to eligible students. Other missing ISPA-required vaccines may be offered at the same time. To learn more about the Tdap and other recommended vaccines, see the Recommended Immunizations section below. 

Dates for the 2023/2024 school year are found below. Consents will be mailed directly to the student’s home addresses and should be returned to the school.

For the 2023/24 school year, TBDHU will review and assess all high school student immunization records, notify parents/guardians of missing vaccines or information, and offer vaccine clinics in high schools, as well as suspension clinics. TBDHU will also return to the full ISPA process, including the suspension process for high school students who are overdue and whose records remain incomplete.

Please read Dr. Janet DeMille’s letter to parents/guardians of high school students in District communities for more information. Please note: Due to weather conditions the Terrace Bay dates have been altered. For updated dates, please see the table below. 

For specific dates regarding this process, see the timeline outlined in the table below for each District community.

School Clinic Calendar

• TBDHU staff need an accurate history of your child’s vaccines so they can determine whether your child has all the vaccines required under the Immunization of School Pupils Act.
• Most health care providers do not forward immunization information to TBDHU.
• If your child received a vaccine at a health care provider’s office, it is your responsibility as their parent/guardian to share this information with the TBDHU.

You can ensure that your child’s records are up-to-date when they start school by:

• Creating a secure Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) account for your child and submitting all of their vaccine records to us through ICON, OR
• Completing the TBDHU School Entry Form, attaching a copy of all of your child’s vaccine records, and dropping off in person, mailing, or faxing it to your closest TBDHU office. 

If you have a health care provider, contact them to make an appointment. If your child gets a vaccine at a health care provider’s office, don’t forget to send this information to TBDHU through ICON, a safe online portal, or by faxing or emailing it to the closest branch office.

Thunder Bay Area

• Step 1: Call TBDHU at 807-625-5900 to speak with a nurse and confirm your child is eligible for a routine vaccine and to learn more about clinic options.
• Step 2: Book an immunization appointment at our 999 Balmoral Street office in Thunder Bay.

District Communities

Call your local TBDHU Branch office to learn more about your vaccination options.

Students in this age group should also stay up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines. See the COVID-19 vaccines webpage for more information. 

Health Care Providers

• If you have a health care provider, contact them to make an appointment.

Thunder Bay District Health Unit Clinics

Thunder Bay Area

• Step 1: Call TBDHU at 807-625-5900 to speak with a nurse and confirm your child is eligible for a routine vaccine and to learn more about clinic options.
• Step 2: Book an immunization appointment at our 999 Balmoral Street office in Thunder Bay or visit one of our walk-in vaccine clinic options.

District Communities

Call your local TBDHU Branch office to learn more about your vaccination options.

Students in this age group should also stay up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines. See the COVID-19 vaccines webpage for more information

Health Care Providers

• If you have a health care provider, contact them to make an appointment.

Thunder Bay District Health Unit Clinics

Thunder Bay Area

• Step 1: Call TBDHU at 807-625-5900 to speak with a nurse and confirm your child is eligible for a routine vaccine and to learn more about clinic options.
• Step 2: Book an immunization appointment at our 999 Balmoral Street office in Thunder Bay or visit one of our walk-in vaccine clinic options.

District Communities

Call your local TBDHU Branch office to learn more about your vaccination options.

Students in this age group should also stay up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines. See the COVID-19 vaccines webpage for more information

You must fill out a Statement of Medical Exemption form that has been signed by a physician or nurse practitioner and submit it to the closest office of the TBDHU. It will indicate the reason for the exemption:

• your child has a medical condition that prevents them from receiving the vaccine
• there is evidence of your child’s immunity to the disease, making further immunization unnecessary 

1. Complete a mandatory education session via video (Vaccine Education Video - YouTube) that covers:

• Basic information about immunization
• Vaccine safety
• Immunization and community health
• Immunization law in Ontario

2. Complete a Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief form and have it signed by a commissioner for taking affidavits in Ontario.
3. Following the completion of the education session video and Statement of Conscience or Religious form, make your way to the TBDHU office in Thunder Bay Monday-Friday between 9 am-4 pm and ask to see a VPD nurse. You will receive a Vaccine Education Certificate signed and dated by a VPD nurse, as well as review and sign an attestation form with a VPD nurse. Residents in District communities should contact their local branch office for further direction. 

   Parents/guardians seeking an exemption in Thunder Bay must book an appointment to ensure a nurse is available to complete this process. Appointments can be booked by calling 807-625-5900 in Thunder Bay. 

4. Make copies of your signed Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief form and submit the original to your nearest TBDHU office. It is important to keep a copy for your records.