Message to Families of Grade 7 and Grade 8 students

For families of current Grade 7 students the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit would like to inform you that immunization clinics will NOT be held at your child’s school during the 2020/2021 school year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are planning to have school-based immunizations offered in the 2021/22 school year for Grade 7 and Grade 8 students.

For families of current Grade 8 students who have not completed their immunization series of Hepatitis B (HB) Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and Men-C-ACYW due to COVID-19, we are offering immunization clinics at our health unit offices throughout Simcoe County and the District of Muskoka. Immunization clinics start November 2, 2020 and are by appointment only. No walk-ins will be immunized. Please call us at 1-877-721-7520 ext 8827 to book your child’s appointment.

Each school year, our nurses visit each elementary school in Simcoe Muskoka.  School clinics are set up during these visits and three vaccines are offered to each grade 7 student.  The first visit occurs in the fall and the second visit happens in the spring.

Hepatitis B (Hep B) and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine are offered at school clinics in the fall (dose 1) and in the spring (dose 2). Both vaccines require two doses for the best protection. These vaccines are voluntary and not required under the law for school attendance.  Please be sure to let us know if your child has received Hep B as an infant or child through your health care provider (including Twinrix), as this will impact how many (if any) doses of Hep B your child requires for complete protection.

Meningococcal Conjugate C-ACYW (Men-C-ACYW) vaccine is offered at school clinics during the fall.  One dose of Men-C- ACYW vaccine is required for full protection.  This vaccine is mandatory for children in Ontario to attend school.