MEMO: 2025 Immunization Record Review Timelines ​​​​​  

TO: Health Care Professionals in the Niagara Region       

FROM:  Vaccine Preventable Disease program, Niagara Region Public Health

REFERENCE: 2025 Immunization Record Review Timelines

DATE: January 8, 2025

By law in Ontario, Public Health must have an up-to-date immunization record or valid exemption on file for each child attending school (Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA).

Immunization Reminder Notices

As part of the annual review of student immunization records (required by the ISPA), Niagara Region Public Health (NRPH) will mail immunization reminder notices to parents/legal guardians of students. This was temporarily delayed due to the postal strike in late 2024. This month Canada Post expects to return to full-service levels and stabilize delivery operations. NRPH will mail the required 13,873 immunization reminder notices to students/parents/legal guardians of students this week.

Suspension Orders

Public Health will then send suspension orders at the end of February to any student who remains non-compliant with the ISPA. Students who continue to have incomplete vaccination information on file with Public Health will be suspended from school starting April 23, 2025, unless the missing vaccination information is reported sooner.

These reminder notices and suspension orders may prompt an increased number of calls to your office from parents/legal guardians seeking immunizations for their child/ren.

Reminders

• The teenage Tdap booster is typically due 10 years after the last tetanus-containing vaccine given between 4–6 years of age
• A Statement of Medical Exemption should be completed and signed only if the vaccine is deemed to be unsafe or unnecessary for the patient due to
  • Contraindication to health (e.g., allergy to a component of the vaccine)
  • Laboratory confirmation of immunity or prior disease
  • Clinical diagnosis of prior disease

Health Care Provider Action 

• Have appointments available for students who need to get caught up on vaccinations and ensure your office has enough vaccine
  • Use the General Vaccine Order Form for ISPA required vaccines
  • Use the School Program Vaccine Order Form for Grade 7 vaccines
• If you need a patient’s immunization record in order to provide service, follow the instructions in the October Physicians’ Newsletter for Accessing and Updating Immunization Records
• Order new immunization record resources for your office. This includes updated notification and how to access your immunization record tear-off pads and poster.
• Remind parents/legal guardians and children 16 years of age and older that they are responsible for reporting their vaccines directly to Public Health

For More Information

• To complement immunization efforts in your office, NRPH continues to run vaccination clinics. Patients can visit niagararegion.ca/vaccines for details.
• Contact the Vaccine Preventable Disease program at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7396