Canada: Toronto Public Health offers immunization program at local school clinics

Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupil Act (ISPA) requires all students to be up-to-date with Meningococcal vaccines, or have a valid exemption. Hepatitis B and HPV vaccines prevent cancers and are voluntary for school attendance in Ontario.

Students in grades 7 to 12, who have missed starting or completing their school vaccine series due to disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, would have access to The Hepatitis B, Human Papillomavirus (HPV), and Meningococcal vaccines.

Vaccine clinics for school immunization programs including pediatric, first, second and third doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were hosted by four schools this past week.

Starting this week, the initiative has been expanded to host at least ten clinics per week at schools across the city. Working closely with school boards, TPH is contacting students, their families, and the school community to provide information about these upcoming clinics. Eligible students and their families would be provided with a package from their child’s school with more information about the vaccines and a consent form.

City of Toronto immunization clinics also provides school immunization program vaccines by appointment made online via the TPH Appointment Booking System. Students’ primary care physicians can order these vaccines directly from TPH and administer these to their eligible patients. Students visiting their health care providers for scheduled or urgent visits should not delay vaccinations at this time.

More lives have been saved by Immunizations 20th century than any other public health intervention in eradicating smallpox and controlling other diseases that once killed or disabled children in large numbers.

“Vaccinations save lives and give us the best protection possible – they help keep us healthy. Thank you to Toronto Public Health for working to help deliver the vaccines we know young people need to stay safe,” Toronto Mayor John Tory has said in a news release.

Vaccines are safe, effective and one of the most important ways to improve health worldwide and prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Vaccinating children helps protect them against infectious diseases and some cancers, and can prevent children from passing on an infection to other vulnerable people in the family or community.

“Vaccines are an important public health tool to prevent the spread of infectious diseases. Throughout our COVID-19 vaccination campaign, our Team Toronto partners have done their very best to bring vaccines to all parts of our city and now we are pleased to bring these mobile vaccine opportunities to our school-based immunization programs. I encourage all eligible students and their families to book their appointments to ensure they are up-to-date with these routine vaccinations,” Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health has said in the news release.