Report Student Vaccination (ISPA)

If you got a letter from Toronto Public Health, it means that we do not have your child’s up-to-date vaccination record.

Check your child’s yellow vaccine card to see whether they got the required vaccines. If you are unsure, speak to a health care provider.

Parents are responsible for reporting child immunizations to Toronto Public Health. Health care providers do not have this responsibility.

Ways to report your child’s vaccination record to Toronto Public Health

• Submit online using ICON.
• Mail a copy to Toronto Public Health, Vaccine Preventable Diseases, 5100 Yonge Street, 2^nd Floor, Toronto, ON, M2N 5V7.
• Fax to 416-338-2487. On the fax cover sheet, make sure to include information that identifies the child (name, date of birth, OIID or health card number) and parent’s contact information.
• Email a copy to immunization@toronto.ca. Note that email is not a secure way to send health information but is an option.

You can also use these options to report vaccinations from outside Ontario/Canada or records in languages other than English.

What to do if:

• Your child is missing one or more of the required vaccines:
  • Make an appointment with a health care provider to get vaccinated for free. Report the vaccination to Toronto Public Health. See options above.
• Your child already got the required vaccines:
  • Report your child’s vaccination record to Toronto Public Health. See options above.
• You already reported your child’s immunization but still got a letter:
  • Additional information may be needed from you. Please email immunization@toronto.ca or call 416-338-7600 and select option two for immunization.
• Your child has a valid vaccine exemption or you would like to request one for your child:
  • Provide us with information by emailing immunization@toronto.ca or call 416-338-7600 and select option two for immunization.

Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) is a secure online provincial system used to track and report a child’s immunizations to Toronto Public Health.

To submit updates or view your child’s immunization record in ICON you will need one of the following:

• Your child’s Ontario Health Card (OHCN)

OR

• Your child’s Ontario immunization ID (OIID -10 digit #) found on the letter sent from Toronto Public Health

Parent’s using OIID for the first time:

If your child does not have an OHCN you will need to obtain an OIID and a PIN to submit and view the immunization into ICON. Please call 416-338-7600 and select option two for immunization to obtain an OIID and a PIN.

Refer to the How to enter immunizations into ICON guide for help in submitting student immunization information to Toronto Public Health. Once your child’s vaccination record is complete in ICON, you can access a copy of their vaccination record when needed. For example, ICON can generate an electronic yellow vaccination card when proof of vaccination is required.

Call Toronto Public Health if:

1. Your child is now 16 years old, and you are locked out of your child’s account.
   A child’s account automatically locks on a child’s 16th birthday. According to the Personal Health Information Protection Act (PHIPPA), the child must give consent for parents to have access to their account. The child must call Toronto Health Connection at 416-338-7600 and select option two for immunization to have the parent continue to have access their account or the child will have sole access to their account. Only one person can have access to the account.

2. Need to report vaccinations for your child in elementary/secondary school and you do not have an Ontario Health Card or do not have an Ontario Immunization Identification.
   All vaccines needed for school are free. If your child does not have OHIP or health insurance, contact a clinic that provides free health care to uninsured people. To submit your child’s vaccinations you will need your child’s Ontario Health Card Number (OHCN) or an Ontario Immunization Identification (OIID).

3. Trouble submitting vaccinations into ICON
   If you are experiencing problems accessing ICON by using the OHCN, we may need to update our system. Call Toronto Health Connection at 416-338-7600 and select option two for immunization for further guidance.

4. You are a newcomer and you do not have a OHCN or an OIID #.
   Call Toronto Health Connection at 416-338-7600 and select option two for immunization to obtain your OIID #. Once you receive your OIID # then you will be able to create an account and report your immunizations.

A student may be exempted from immunization under the ISPA for medical reasons or due to conscious or religious belief. To apply a valid exemption on your child’s immunization record for:

Medical exemptions

1. Download and print the Statement of Medical Exemption- ISPA Form.
2. Have a health care practitioner complete the form. Your health care practitioner will submit the necessary documentation back to Toronto Public Health.

Non-medical exemptions

1. Attend an immunization education session required by the ISPA and receive a certificate.
2. Complete the Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief- ISPA form. Have the form signed before a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits. (Note: you may be charged a fee for this service).
3. Mail both certificate and notarized form back to Toronto Public Health, Vaccine Preventable Diseases, 5100 Yonge Street, 2^nd Floor, Toronto, ON, M2N 5V7

Note: the education session must be completed by a parent and should be the same parent completing the Statement of Conscience or Religious form. To receive a Vaccine Education Certificate, your child(ren) must either live and/or attend school within the City of Toronto.

For more information on immunization exemptions call 416-338-7600 and select option two for immunization. To register for an upcoming session visit TPHBookings.ca and select Immunization Education Session.

If there is a vaccine preventable disease case or outbreak at your child’s school, your child might be excluded from school to keep them and their school safe.

For parents/legal guardians of children in a license child-care centre, if your child is not in grade school, there is a different form and process for an exemption. An immunization education session is not required. Please visit Information for Staff and Children for more information.

Who is a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits?

A parent must complete Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief- ISPA form and have it witnessed by a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits. A Commissioner for Taking Affidavits is a person who can sign and swear or affirm. This form can be sign by:

• Lawyer, judge, justices of the peace – who practice in Ontario
• Notary public service
• Members of a municipal council (City Councillor)
• Members of the Provincial Parliament
• Call 211 for list of legal clinics

Parents and guardians are responsible for reporting your child’s immunizations to public health every time your child’s gets a vaccine. Refer to the How to enter immunizations into ICON guide for help in submitting student immunization information to Toronto Public Health.

Toronto Public Health (TPH) receives immunization information in many languages other than English. If you are currently being assessed by TPH under the ISPA, please submit your foreign records for processing.

Parents/legal guardians and students 16 years of age and older can report their foreign record to TPH by submitting:

• Online using ICON.
• Mail a copy to Toronto Public Health, Vaccine Preventable Diseases, 5100 Yonge Street, 2^nd Floor, Toronto, ON, M2N 5V7.
• Fax to 416-338-2487.
• Email a copy to immunization@toronto.ca. Note that email is not a secure way to send health information but is an option.

For individuals that are not school aged, TPH recommends finding a settlement agency or community agency that offer translation services.

Toronto Public Health is hosting community clinics to help students catch-up on their school-based vaccines. Clinics are appointment based and residents are encouraged to book an appointment.

Learn more about the required vaccines (or to have a valid exemption) for children who attend childcare and school.

Learn more about tips to improve your child’s immunization experience.

Call a health care provider or contact Toronto Public Health at 416-338-7600 (language interpretation available) and select option two for immunization, or email at immunization@toronto.ca.

Learn more about the Province’s School Immunization Checklist and Vaccine Preventable Diseases.