Immunization protects us from a number of harmful diseases. These diseases can have very serious complications, including death. Bacteria and viruses that cause disease travel easily throughout the world. They are easily spread from person to person and can live on surfaces such as taps, counter tops, door handles and skin for several hours, or even days.
For information about school requirements under Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), including our plans for surveillance and suspension, visit our School Health reporting and requirements page.
Whole School Approaches
A healthy school works in partnership with public health to help students in schools catch up and keep up on their routine immunizations. Consider the following activities as part of your health and well-being action plan:
Have a Process in Place for Student Registration
Please ensure that all new students report their immunization information to the health unit at the time of registration. Forward any hard copy immunization records you receive from students or their parents/families to the health unit by courier or mail.
Families can use this QR code to link to SMDHU immunization reporting website:
Families who register their children for JK/SK and have not provided their child’s immunization record to SMDHU, our nurses will review records for students in JK/SK in early fall and follow up with families who have outstanding immunization information. Letters will be sent home in student backpacks.
Teaching and Learning
Using credible resources and activities that align with Ontario curriculum can help students develop age-appropriate knowledge and make informed decisions to improve their health.
- Ophea’s Vaccination Talks Toolkit - Grades 1 - 8. A free online resource with information to support students in developing health literacy related to vaccination. The resource makes connections to multiple strands of the Ontario Curriculum.
Health Unit Programs and Services
Grade 7 Routine Immunizations
The health unit offers a variety of services to support student health and immunization, including Grade 7 immunization clinics in elementary schools, review of student immunization records and catch-up immunization clinics held at health unit locations across Simcoe Muskoka.
Beginning in October, Immunization Program nurses will visit schools with students in Grade 7 to provide routine immunizations, including Meningococcal ACYW-135, Hepatitis B and Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines. Nurses will return between April and June to complete this immunization series.
We contact schools each spring to schedule these clinics. Nurses visit schools once in the fall and again in the spring. The school immunization nurse will follow up with the school by email approximately 1-2 weeks before the clinic.
The school immunization nurse will request a space that provides a safe and private environment for students to receive their vaccines. The size of the space required may depend on the number of health unit staff attending the school. A library or small classroom are suitable options.
In the last week of August or first week of September, schools will receive a hard-copy package containing parent information and student consent forms for distribution families. Consent forms are to be returned to the school by the specified date in September and forwarded to public health to support the organization of school clinics.
Further information is available on our student health immunization webpages.
Routine Immunizations for Secondary Students
Students are routinely due for Tdap vaccine at 14 years of age or 10 years after their 4 year booster, whichever applies. The Tdap vaccine is generally provided by the student’s health care provider. Students who do not have a healthcare provider can be directed to Immunization Clinics (simcoemuskokahealth.org) to book appointment.
Immunization Record Review and Public Clinics
The health unit offers a variety of services to support student health through immunization, including routine review of student immunization records and public immunization clinics held at health unit location across Simcoe Muskoka.
Support for Newcomer Students
Schools looking to support newcomer students and/or students whose first language is not English can access telephone support through a translation service available in 200 languages.
International students are required under ISPA to be up to date with the Ontario Immunization schedule. We can help families understand immunization requirements, support students to catch up on missed vaccines and ensure immunizations records are updated to help prevent suspension.
Call us at 1-877-721-7520 ext. 8827.
For Grade 7 students, a QR code is included in the consent package mailed to families to help them access translated information in their preferred language. This supports informed understanding and decision making when consenting to immunizations.
Student Engagement
Engage students in age-appropriate activities that promote learning and discussion about immunization. Encourage students to ask questions, access reliable information and talk with a parent, caregiver or health care provider about their immunization needs.
Parent and Family Engagement
There are many ways for parents, caregivers and families to help ensure their children’s immunizations are up to date and support a positive vaccination experience. Helping children feel comfortable and reducing pain, stress and anxiety during vaccination can make the experience more positive. If a child has a negative experience with vaccination, they may develop fear of needles or be less comfortable receiving vaccines or accessing health care in the future.
There are several strategies that can help reduce pain, stress and anxiety for children and their parents or caregivers. Using a numbing cream, giving children an opportunity to ask questions, explaining what to expect and allowing them to choose ways to comfortable during vaccination can help make the experience less stressful and more positive.
Resources schools can share with parents, caregivers and families about immunization include:
Additional Resources
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Grade 7 – Hepatitis B, Meningococcal C-ACYW, and Human Papillomavirus videos and fact sheets
- Ontario's HPV Immunization Program – information Human Papillomavirus (HPV) and the HPV vaccine from the Ontario Ministry of Health.
- Immunize Canada – information related to immunization, vaccine safety, and vaccine preventable diseases in Canada.
- Canadian Pediatric Society – information related to vaccine preventable disease and immunizations in Canada.
- Public Health Agency of Canada – information related to immunization, vaccine safety, and vaccine preventable diseases in Canada.
Contact Us
For more information or support, contact your local School Health public health nurse. You can also contact the health unit at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520 or complete our secure online Request for Service Form.
Updated: September 21, 2026
