Access or Update Immunization Information

Every time your child gets immunized against designated diseases under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) or Ontario's Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule, please contact York Region so your child's immunization information on file can be updated.

Learn more about updating and accessing immunization information for:

School-aged children

Children in child care centres

Update and access your child's reported immunization records with York Region online on Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON). Your health care provider does not provide us with your child’s immunizations.

Update Immunization Records Online

You may also provide your child’s up-to-date immunization information by:

  • Sending a fax to 1-866-258-2026
  • Calling York Region Public Health at 1-877-464-9675, ext. 73456
  • Mailing immunization information to: York Region Public Health, Immunization Services, 17150 Yonge Street, 4th Floor, Newmarket, ON L3Y 8V3

Information for School-Aged Children

Immunization requirements

The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) 

The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) outlines immunization requirements for children attending school in Ontario.

In Ontario's routine immunization schedule, vaccines are free of charge if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Children attending private or a publicly-funded school are required to have proof of immunization against the following diseases unless a valid exemption is provided:

  • Diphtheria
  • Tetanus
  • Polio
  • Pertussis (whooping cough)
  • Measles (Measles activity is high across Ontario. To prevent transmission, ensure that your child is up to date with their vaccinations.)
  • Mumps
  • Rubella
  • Meningococcal disease
  • Varicella (chicken pox) (for students born in or after 2010)

A child’s immunization record (yellow card) must show that all the required vaccine doses were received at the correct age.

Parents/guardians are required to inform York Region when their child(ren) receives an immunization against any of the nine designated diseases. Neither health care providers nor schools provide this information to York Region.

If the immunization information on file is not up to date, York Region will notify parents/guardians.

Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) communication sent to parents/guardians

A notification is being sent to all parents/guardians to inform them of the requirements to submit their child’s up-to-date immunization records to York Region.

If York Region has not received a student’s up-to-date immunization record, additional notices will be sent to the family.

Common reasons for getting a letter from York Region Public Health:

  • Your child’s vaccine record is not up to date with York Region Public Health
  • Yor child hasn’t received a vaccine
  • Your child received vaccinations that do not meet the requirements of Ontario’s routine vaccine schedule
  • You’ve requested an exemption, but York Region Public Health hasn’t received the original signed and completed medical form, notarized conscience, religious form, or the attestation form
  • Your child’s vaccinations were not given on time according to the schedule

Students with incomplete immunization information on file may be suspended from school. The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) outlines that students may be suspended for up to 20 school days if the immunization information is not up to date or a valid exemption is not on file.

York Region supports parents/guardians and students in reducing the risk of school suspension by providing public health immunization clinics for students to obtain the required immunizations.

If you continue to receive letters from York Region, but you believe your child has all the required immunizations, please contact us at 1-877-464-9675 ext. 73456. 

Immunization Exemptions for ISPA

There are two different exemption forms available for a child attending school in York Region.

Please complete the correct form based on your reason.

For children attending school:

Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), Ontario parents and guardians who choose not to immunize their child for non-medical reasons are required to watch an immunization education video and complete the statement of conscience or religious belief form for schools.

Please do the following to complete the process:

  1. Watch the Vaccine Education Video
  2. Complete the Vaccine Education Attestation Form – once submitted, a copy will be sent to the email address you provided and to @email. You will receive a Vaccine Education Certificate via encrypted email (from @email) within 5 business days after completion of the attestation form
  3. Complete the Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief form and have it signed by a Commissioner of Oath, such as a lawyer, Member of Parliament, or Town Clerk. Please note, there may be a fee required for this service and you may need to bring the Vaccine Education Certificate with you when signing the form. Altered forms will not be accepted
  4. Submit the affirmed and unaltered, Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief form with the vaccine education certificate to @email

For more information on immunization exemptions, contact York Region Public Health at 1-877-464-9675, ext. 73456.

Information for Children in Child Care Centres

Immunizations Requirements

The Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA) outlines immunization requirements for children attending licensed child care centres in Ontario.

Children attending a licensed child care centre are required to have proof of immunization against the following diseases, unless a valid exemption is provided:

  • Diphtheria
  • Tetanus
  • Polio
  • Pertussis (whooping cough)
  • Haemophilus influenza type (Hib) B
  • Pneumococcal
  • Rotavirus
  • Measles, mumps and rubella
  • Varicella (chickenpox)
  • Meningococcal – Type C

The timing to receive these required immunizations is outlined in Ontario's Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule. Once a child is enrolled in school, the CCEYA does not apply.

Licensed child care centres must keep immunization information onsite for each enrolled child. York Region will request and review these records annually.

Parents/guardians will be notified by York Region Public Health if a child is missing required immunizations or a valid exemption. Review more information about exemptions.

Immunization Exemptions for Licensed Child Care

There are two different exemption forms available for a child attending a licensed child care centre or a school in York Region.

Please complete the correct form based on your reason.

For children in licensed child care:

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I submit my child’s immunization information in Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON)?

To submit your child's immunization information to York Region in ICON, you will need your child’s Ontario Health Card Number (OHCN) or an Ontario Immunization Identification (OIID).

Note: In ICON, it can take up to five business days before any updates appear on your child’s record through the “View Immunizations” feature. You may call us at 1-877-464-9675, ext. 73456 if it is longer than five business days.

If you choose not to use your child’s OHCN or experience problems using the OHCN, you will need to obtain an OIID to submit the immunization.

Please contact us at 1-877-464-9675, ext. 73456 to obtain an OIID and a personal identification number (PIN). The PIN is required to verify the information in ICON.

How do I obtain a copy of my child’s immunization record?

The best way to access your child's record is by using the online tool: Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON)

To view or print your child's immunization record, you can enter your child’s:

  • Ontario Health Card Number or
  • an Ontario Immunization ID (OIID). If you do not have your child's OIID, you can call YRPH at 1-877-464-9675, ext. 73456 to obtain one. We will also provide a personal identification number (PIN) that will be used to verify the information in ICON

After inputting your child’s health card number and a PIN:

  • Review the next page which will show your child’s immunization records that are on file with YRPH, and any other records required
  • Select “printable PDF version of immunization records” to print this information for your files

You can also call YRPH to request a copy of your child's immunization record. It will take up to five business days to process your request.

Note: Your child's immunization record at York Region only contains immunizations reported by yourself and immunizations administered by a public health nurse, for example, at a school immunization clinic. Your child may have received additional immunizations, please submit any missing information to York Region to ensure your child's immunization record is up to date.

For immunization records that have not been submitted to York Region, contact your physician’s office or the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario if your physician’s office/clinic is no longer open (operational).

Why should I immunize my child and why does York Region need to know?

Immunization is one of the safest ways to protect you, your family and your community from many serious and potentially deadly vaccine preventable diseases. When immunized, a child’s body can fight serious disease and also prevent the disease from spreading to others who are not vaccinated (e.g., due to age, underlying medical conditions, allergies).

If there is an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease at a licensed child care centre or school, York Region staff will review the immunization information on file for any children exposed to the infectious person to figure out who has not been immunized and is at risk of becoming ill. Children or students whose immunization for that specific infection is not up-to-date may be excluded (i.e., asked to stay home during the outbreak) from the child care centre or school during the outbreak. For this reason, it is important that your child’s immunizations be up-to-date and on file with York Region.

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