MEMO: Niagara Region Public Health's Summer Vaccination Clinics and Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON)

TO:   Health Care Providers in Niagara

FROM: Vaccine Preventable Disease Program, Niagara Region Public Health

REFERENCE: Niagara Region Public Health’s Summer Vaccination Clinics and Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON)

DATE: July 12, 2023

Students who received a Final Immunization Notice and who do not report their immunization information to Niagara Region Public Health (NRPH) over the summer will be receiving an Order for Suspension in August that will be enforced in the upcoming academic school year. There are approximately 11,000 students who are still not up to date with their immunizations.

Health Care Provider Action

• Please refer patients to NRPH’s vaccination clinics if your office does not have capacity to catch students up
• Patients can visit the Summer Vaccination Clinics webpage for clinic locations, appointment booking information, and walk-in options. There are many appointments still available.

Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON)

In late spring, NRPH activated the Ministry’s Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON). ICON is a secure and confidential online system for patients to update and retrieve their immunization information. Patients and parents/legal guardians can continue to report vaccinations online for their children 0 to 17 years of age and can now also access their immunization records through ICON.

ICON provides patients ownership and control over their personal health information by allowing them to directly access and share their records with primary care providers through appropriate channels.

Implications for Practice

• If you need a patient’s immunization record in order to provide service, ask the patient or parent/legal guardian to visit www.niagararegion.ca/vaccines to access their record for you
• Children 16 years of age and older must request their own records due to privacy laws
• Remind parents/legal guardians and children 16 years of age and older that they are responsible for reporting their vaccines directly to Public Health

More Information

• If you have any questions or would like further information, please contact the Vaccine Preventable Disease program at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7396