Since the spring of 2020, many services within the VPD program were suspended due to a primary focus on pandemic response efforts. We are pleased to announce that VPD has resumed some vaccination clinic services and will be starting a modified approach to record review this school year. Additionally, the Ministry of Health has announced extended eligibility for the hepatitis B school-based vaccination series and expansion of the Tdap immunization program.
Vaccination Clinics
School-based Vaccination Clinics
- The Grade 7 school-based immunization program restarted in April 2022 to offer Meningococcal ACYW-135 (Nimenrix®), Hepatitis B (Engerix®) and HPV-9 (Gardasil®) vaccines to Grade 7 and 8 students during school hours
- Given the time available before the end of this school year, a limited number of schools will be attended
- These clinics will not be offering the COVID-19 vaccine
- An information package and consent form will be sent to parents/legal guardians through their child’s school if public health is attending
Public Health Vaccination Clinics
- Niagara Region Public Health (NRPH) has also resumed general and Grade 7 vaccination clinics for eligible cohorts (grades 7 – 10). This includes opening the Niagara Falls and Welland Public Health satellite offices as well as planning other clinics during the summer months.
- Clinic information will be posted on our website. Check often for updates.
Ordering School Program Vaccines
Order school program vaccines from NRPH for any eligible students currently in Grades 7 – 10.
- View Public Health’s website for information on the typical vaccine series for the school program vaccines
- The Ministry of Health mandates Public Health accurately reports vaccine
usage. When reordering school program vaccines, health care professionals will need to report the names of clients who were vaccinated. See the School Program Vaccine Order Form for complete details.
- Hepatitis B vaccine series (to be completed by the end of grade 12):
- As of the 2022-2023 school year, the eligibility period for the hepatitis B publicly funded school-based (grade 7) immunization program will be expanded until the end of grade 12 to allow students to complete their hepatitis B
immunization series
- The hepatitis B vaccination series does not need to be restarted. Refer to the following hepatitis B (i.e., Recombivax® or Engerix®) schedules depending on age of your patient at presentation and previous doses received:
Routine Hep B Series – no doses received
- 11 years of age to under 16 years of age (Hepatitis B – adult)
- 16 years of age to under 19 years of age (Hepatitis B – paediatric)
- 3 doses (0.5 mL each):
- Dose 1: Date first dose administered
- Dose 2: 1 month after first dose
- Dose 3: 5 months after second dose
Incomplete series – 1 dose (HB 1.0 mL) received 11 years of age to under 16 years of age AND patient is now 16 years or older
- 16 years of age to under 19 years of age (Hepatitis B – paediatric)
- 2 additional doses required (0.5 mL each):
- Dose 2: 1 month after first dose
- Dose 3: 5 months after second dose
Immunization Records
- NRPH routinely provides access to immunization records to ensure health care professionals have the most
up-to-date information available for their patients
- To help facilitate the school-based grade 7 vaccine catch-up campaign, NRPH can release batch records for those born in 2006 and 2007 by request from the health care professional
- Release of batch records indicates your office has the intent of proactively reaching out to vaccinate these age groups among your patients
- If this is something you require, please contact the VPD program for more information at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7396
Record Review
There are approximately 4,000 children in Niagara region with missing immunization records. Parents/legal guardians will be notified by mail if their child has no immunization record on file.
- Your office may see an influx of calls from parents/legal guardians requesting information on their child’s immunization history
- If you notice the child is missing immunization(s), please take this
opportunity to provide any outstanding dose(s)
- If you are unable to administer school-based vaccines, please direct patients to our website for clinic information
- Please remind parents/legal guardians of children ages 17 and under that it is their responsibility to report their child’s immunization records to Public Health. COVID-19 or influenza (flu) vaccination details do not need to be reported.
- There are several ways to report vaccines to Public Health:
- Online
- Phone: 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7425
- Fax the immunization record (such as a yellow card) to 905-688-8225
Tdap Maternal Dose
- As of April 2022, Ontario’s Tdap immunization program has expanded to include a dose in every pregnancy
- Pregnant individuals are eligible to get a free pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine in every pregnancy to help protect the baby after birth
- The pertussis vaccine is given as part of the tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) vaccine. Tdap vaccine is provided as either Adacel® and/or Boostrix®.
More Information