MEMO: Ontario's Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule Updated

TO:  Health care professionals in the Niagara region 

FROM: Vaccine Preventable Disease program

REFERENCE: Ontario's Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule Updated

DATE:  February 2021

On January 22, 2021 the Ministry of Health released an updated version of Ontario’s Publicly Funded Immunization Schedules in both English and French. This document is available online in PDF format and is intended primarily for area health care providers who administer publicly funded vaccines.

Two versions are now available for download:

• Printable booklet on 8.5x11 paper (16 pages)
• Larger-print, assembled schedules that can be posted and/or kept with the full schedules for easy reference in immunization clinics (printed on 8.5x11 paper and assembled) 

Key Updates Include:

• Vaccine updates for: HPV-9 (Gardasil®9), Rotavirus-5 (RotaTeq®), and Herpes Zoster (Shingrix® which was introduced in Ontario in October 2020)
• Removal of references to: Td-IPV, DTaP-IPV, and DTaP-IPV-Hib (where applicable)
  • Please note where Td-IPV has been removed from Catch-up Schedule 3 on page 4, Td and IPV are now given as separate vaccines. The IPV vaccine should be administered by subcutaneous injection (refer to Table 2 on page 5 for the list of vaccines and routes of administration)
• Updated wording to provide clarity and revised catch-up schedules

More Information:

• Refer to additional tables (page 5 - 12) for details regarding eligibility criteria and vaccine intervals
• For further vaccine information, review the Canadian Immunization Guide or specific product monographs
• For additional information on the immunization program and order forms, visit our Immunization, Vaccine for Health Professionals webpage
• For any questions, especially around catch-up schedules and High Risk eligibility, please call the Vaccine Preventable Disease program at 905-688-8248 or 1-888-505-6074 ext. 7396