This morning (May 7), 1,351 elementary students with out-of-date vaccination records were suspended under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA).
"Vaccines help protect children from serious illness," said Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, Medical Officer of Health, Region of Waterloo. "Keeping students up to date with their vaccinations is an important part of protecting the health of our community."
Students who have been suspended can return to school once their vaccination records are up to date, or a valid exemption is on file.
To return to school:
- If your child has received the required vaccines, report them to Public Health at regionofwaterloo.ca/VaccineReporting
- If your child needs vaccines, an exemption, or an in-person record review, book an appointment with Public Health at regionofwaterloo.ca/vaccines.
- You may also access vaccines through your health care provider. Please call ahead to confirm vaccine availability.
- If you need support or have questions, call Public Health at 519-575-4400. Wait times may be longer than usual due to high call volumes.
Background
Routine vaccinations provide protection against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, meningitis, pertussis (whooping cough), and varicella (chickenpox).
The Immunization of School Pupils Act requires all elementary and secondary school students to have proof of these vaccinations or a valid exemption on file with Public Health.
Letters requesting vaccination records were mailed to 9,234 elementary school students with incomplete records between January and February 2026. Suspension orders were mailed to 7,065 elementary school students whose records remained out of date in March 2026. These numbers are consistent with historical Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) trends in Waterloo Region.
Questions? Need help?
- Visit Region of Waterloo Public Health to learn more about school and childcare vaccinations
