Immunizations for School-Aged Children and Youth

High schools include École Secondaire Catholique de la Verendrye, Hammarskjold, Westgate, St. Ignatius, St. Patrick, Superior CVI, and Thunder Bay Christian.

February 3 to February 7, 2025  

• An Immunization Notice: Preventing Suspension letter will be mailed to the home address of all high school students who do not meet ISPA requirements.
• This letter will include directions on how to prevent suspension.

February 28, 2025     

• An Order of Suspension will be sent through registered mail to the parents/guardians of students who do not meet ISPA requirements.
• Students will still have time to take action to meet ISPA requirements.
• Information will be included on how to prevent the suspension.

March 25 to April 23, 2025

• Students who do not meet ISPA requirements will be suspended for up to 20 days, starting Tuesday, March 25th.
• Suspended students will be able to return to school immediately once requirements are met and and the suspension is rescinded by TBDHU.
  • See the box at the top of this page for details on the 3 options available to high school students.
• Schools are responsible for enforcing the student suspension.
• TBDHU will work with schools to support students and families in meeting the requirements of ISPA so the student can return to school.

February 14, 2025    

• An Immunization Notice: Preventing Suspension letter will be mailed to the home address of all elementary students in Senior Kindergarten through Grade 8 who do not meet ISPA requirements.
• This letter will include directions on how to prevent suspension.

March 14, 2025    

• An Order of Suspension will be sent through registered mail to the parents/guardians of students who do not meet ISPA requirements.
• Students will still have time to take action to meet ISPA requirements.
• Information will be included on how to prevent the suspension.

April 15 to May 14, 2025    

• Students who do not meet ISPA requirements will be suspended for up to 20 days, starting Tuesday, April 15.
• Suspended students will be able to return to school immediately once requirements are met and the suspension is rescinded by TBDHU.
• Schools are responsible for enforcing the student suspension.
• TBDHU will work with schools to support students and families in meeting the requirements of ISPA so the student can return to school.

Timeline:

• Request for Information Notice (first notice) Mailed: Week of March 17
• Order of Suspension (second notice) Mailed: Tuesday, April 29, 2025
• Suspension Period  Begins: Wednesday, May 14, 2025      
• Suspension Period Ends 20 school days later: Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Timeline:

• Request for Information Notice (first notice) Mailed: Week of  February 24th
• Order of Suspension (second notice) Mailed: Friday, April 4
• Suspension Period  Begins:  Tuesday, April 22, 2025 
• Suspension Period Ends 20 school days later: Tuesday, May 20, 2025

Timeline

• Request for Information Notice (first notice) Mailed: Week of March 17
• Order of Suspension (second notice) Mailed: Tuesday, April 29, 2025
• Suspension Period  Begins: Wednesday, May 14, 2025      
• Suspension Period Ends 20 school days later: Wednesday,  June 11, 2025

Timeline

• Request for Information Notice (first notice) Mailed: week of March 24th
• Order of Suspension (second notice) Mailed: Monday, May 5, 2025   
• Suspension Period  Begins: Tuesday, May 20, 2025            
• Suspension Period Ends 20 school days later: Monday, June 16, 2025

• TBDHU visits all schools with Grade 7 students. 
• Students in Grade 8 can receive missing doses at these clinic; see the section above for more information on the consent process for students in Grade 8 needing to catch up.
• Second dose clinics will be held approximately 6 months following the first dose clinic.

*The dates below are subject change - please check back before the scheduled dates for your child's clinic to confirm.*

• How to Handle Your Shots Like a Champ - Part 1 | Kids Boost Immunity
• Preparing Children for School Vaccinations: A parent's guide (PDF)
• Immunize.ca - CARD Kids and Adolescents
• Immunize.ca - CARD System (PDF)
• Immunize.ca - CARD on Fainting and Muscle Tension (PDF)
• Reduce the Pain of Vaccination in Kids and Teens (PDF)

• TBDHU nurses will be providing the following three immunizations at elementary schools in the fall and then again in the spring, to all grade 7 students. The in-school clinic dates schedule can be found above.
  • Men-C-ACYW-135 (1 dose only, fall) * required for school attendance
  • Hepatitis B (2 doses, 6 months apart, fall and spring)
  • HPV-9 (Gardasil®9) (2 doses, 6 months apart, fall and spring)

• Yes, one dose of each of the three vaccines will be offered at the first visit in the fall. MenC-ACYW-135 only requires one dose. 
• TBDHU nurses return to the school in the spring, to complete the second dose of both Hepatitis B and HPV-9.
• MenC-ACYW-135 will be offered in the spring for those who missed it in the fall. 

• Yes. Your child’s immune system can easily handle many vaccines at once.
• Receiving multiple vaccines is safe, convenient, and ensures the best protection for your child at the earliest age possible.

• Yes. On September 28, 2021, the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) updated its recommendations on the co-administration of COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines.
• Based on NACI’s review of the effectiveness and safety of COVID-19 vaccines, NACI recommends that non-COVID-19 vaccines may be given on the same day, or at any time before or after the COVID-19 vaccine. See the COVID-19 Vaccines: Canadian Immunization Guide for more information.

• No, they are all separate vaccinations and each requires separate consent.
• Both arms will be used so it is best to wear a shirt with easy access to the upper arm.

• Common side effects are redness, tenderness, and swelling at the injection site on the arm.
• Some children experience a headache, fever, and fatigue.

• Please visit our Reporting and Obtaining Immunization Records webpage for the options available. 

• Yes, they can.
• Please complete the consent form and indicate on the form the dates of the previous doses. A nurse will ensure the timing is correct prior to administering the next dose.

• No. As per the Canadian Immunization Guide, a vaccine series does not need to be restarted regardless of the time between doses.
• The nurse will simply complete the missing dose(s) at the school and your child will be up to date.

• No, COVID-19 vaccines will not be offered at school clinics.
• Please visit COVID-19 Vaccines for information about COVID-19 vaccine opportunities. Anyone age 6 months and older is eligible for COVID-19 vaccine.

• Yes, if your child missed these vaccines in grade 7 they are eligible to catch up and receive the missing doses until the end of grade 12.
• You can complete an online consent to have them receive these vaccines at their high school clinic.
• If a private setting works better for your student, you may contact your primary care provider to book an appointment with them. 
• Parents and/or guardians are responsible for reporting their child’s immunizations to their local public health unit so an up to date record is on file for the student.
• Ask your health care provider to submit the records to TBDHU OR learn more about the options available for parents to submit records by visiting the Reporting and Obtaining Immunization Records webpage. There is now an option to take a photo of any paper records and upload to a secure website.
• If you are unable to get an appointment in a timely manner OR you don’t have a primary care provider, you can make an appointment to receive the vaccine at TBDHU by calling a vaccine nurse at 807-625-5908 (in Thunder Bay) or by contacting your local branch office.

• Meningococcal ACYW-135 is required for school attendance under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA).
  • Students who do not have complete immunization records can be suspended from school under ISPA.
  • Please ensure that the mandatory vaccines are up to date and reported to the health unit as soon as possible.
• Although Hepatitis B and HPV-9 are not required for school attendance, they are strongly recommended.

• Yes. Please complete the online consent form and indicate ‘NO’ in the vaccine consent boxes.
• It is very helpful for the nurses on clinic day to have completed consent forms for all students.
• Parents and/or guardians are responsible for reporting their child’s immunizations to their local public health unit so an up to date record is on file for the student.
• For any vaccines given by another provider, ask that the records be submitted to TBDHU OR learn more about the options available for parents to submit records by visiting the Reporting and Obtaining Immunization Records webpage. There is now an option to take a photo of any paper records and upload to a secure website.

• Contact your primary care provider to make an appointment.
• Parents and/or guardians are responsible for reporting their child’s immunizations to their local public health unit so an up to date record is on file for the student.
• For any vaccines given by another provider, ask that the records be submitted to TBDHU OR learn more about the options available for parents to submit records by visiting the Reporting and Obtaining Immunization Records webpage. There is now an option to take a photo of any paper records and upload to a secure website.
• If you are unable to get an appointment in a timely manner OR you don’t have a primary care provider, you can make an appointment to receive the vaccine at TBDHU by calling a vaccine nurse at 807-625-5908 (in Thunder Bay) or by contacting your local branch office.
• Students can also wait until the spring school clinics when TBDHU makes a second visit to start their vaccine series.

• If they completed a full series of Hepatitis B vaccine they do not need to repeat the Hepatitis B vaccine at school.
• Please complete the online consent form and indicate ‘NO’ in the vaccine consent boxes.
• If they have not received the full series, a nurse will reach out and advise if the vaccine is needed.
• Parents and/or guardians are responsible for reporting their child’s immunizations to their local public health unit so an up to date record is on file for the student.
• For any vaccines given by another provider, ask that the records be submitted to TBDHU OR learn more about the options available for parents to submit records by visiting the Reporting and Obtaining Immunization Records webpage. There is now an option to take a photo of any paper records and upload to a secure website.

• Yes, the Men-C-C vaccine received at 12 months of age is not the same as the Men-C-ACYW-135 vaccine that is offered in Grade 7.
• Men-C-ACYW is used to protect adolescents against 4 strains of meningitis (ACYW-135) whereas the Men-C-C vaccine received in infancy provides protection against the C strain only.

• As per the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), only one valid dose of Men-C-ACYW-135 after age one is required for school attendance.
• However, your child is still eligible for a publicly funded dose of Men-C-ACYW-135 in Grade 7.
• Antibodies can wane overtime so receiving another dose is recommended, however optional.
• For more information on a second dose please call 807-625-5908 (in Thunder Bay) to speak with a vaccine nurse or contact your local branch office.

• Vaccines required for school attendance under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) will need a valid religious or conscientious exemption form completed.
• For instructions on religious or conscientious exemptions and to download a form, see the Exemptions tab at the bottom of this webpage.
• Please submit the online onsent and indicate “NO” in the consent boxes and add a note to advise you are in the process of exemption.

• For instructions on medical exemptions and to download a form to be completed by your primary care provider, see the Exemptions tab at the bottom of this webpage.
• Please submit an online consent and indicate “NO” in the consent boxes and add a note to advise you are in the process of medical exemption.

• Please contact your primary care provider to book an appointment with them first.
• Parents and/or guardians are responsible for reporting their child’s immunizations to their local public health unit so an up to date record is on file for the student.
• For any vaccines given by another provider, ask that the records be submitted to TBDHU OR learn more about the options available for parents to submit records by visiting the Reporting and Obtaining Immunization Records webpage. There is now an option to take a photo of any paper records and upload to a secure website.
• If you are unable to get an appointment in a timely manner OR you don’t have a primary care provider, you can make an appointment to receive the vaccine at TBDHU visiting TBDHU.com/vaxclinics and follow the directions to book an appointment using the new online booking system OR by contacting your local branch office.

• Parent attendance at school clinics is not ideal as students are called to the clinic by class, therefore the time of day that your child will be immunized is difficult to determine.
• If you would prefer to attend the appointment with your child, you can book an appointment with your Primary Care Provider.
• Parents and/or guardians are responsible for reporting their child’s immunizations to their local public health unit so an up to date record is on file for the student.
• For any vaccines given by another provider, ask that the records be submitted to TBDHU OR learn more about the options available for parents to submit records by visiting the Reporting and Obtaining Immunization Records webpage. There is now an option to take a photo of any paper records and upload to a secure website.
•  If you are unable to get an appointment in a timely manner OR you don’t have a primary care provider, you can make an appointment for at TBDHU by calling a vaccine nurse at 807-625-5908 (in Thunder Bay) or by contacting your local branch office.