In Ontario, children need certain vaccinations to attend school or licensed child care settings.
- In some cases, a child may be exempt from immunization requirements due to medical or non-medical reasons.
- Once added, the exemption will be valid at any school or licensed child care centre in Ontario.
- In the event of an outbreak related to a vaccine preventable disease, a child with an exemption may be excluded from child care or school to protect them and the community from the vaccine preventable disease that they are not immunized for.
Once an exemption is applied, Public Health will no longer contact you about immunizations that your child is exempt from, and you will not receive immunization reminders. If you decide to have your child vaccinated later, you can
- cancel the exemption
- ask your health care provider what immunizations are needed
- contact us to discuss a catch-up schedule for missing immunization
Medical exemptions
Medical exemptions include proof of serological immunity, a clinical diagnosis of disease, or because the child has true vaccine contraindication.
Non-medical exemptions
Non-medical exemptions are due to conscience, philosophical or religious beliefs.
Parents must choose one of the following steps to have their child’s exemption entered into the provincial immunization database.
Vaccine exemptions for children attending licensed child care
Step 1: Have a physician or nurse practitioner complete and sign the Statement of Medical Exemption (CCEYA, 2014) form and indicate the reason for the exemption.
Make a copy of the document for your personal records.
Step 2: Submit the signed form to Public Health Sudbury & Districts in one of the following ways:
- Drop off in-person at any Public Health Sudbury & Districts location during regular business hours.
- Mail to:
Public Health Sudbury & Districts
Attention: Vaccine Preventable Diseases
1300 Paris Street
Sudbury, ON P3E 3A3
- Fax (directly from your health care provider’s office) to 705.677.9616 (confidential fax).
Step 1: Download and complete the Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief (CCEYA, 2014) form. Have the form witnessed by a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits. A notarized form is required for each child in licensed child care.
Make a copy of the document for your personal records.
Step 2: Submit the original signed Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief form to Public Health Sudbury & Districts in one of the following ways:
- Drop off in-person: bring to any Public Health Sudbury & Districts location during regular business hours.
- Mail to:
Public Health Sudbury & Districts
Attention: Health Promotion and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division
1300 Paris Street
Sudbury, ON P3E 3A3
Once Public Health has received the original completed Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief form, the exemption will be added to the provincial immunization database. This exemption is valid for any licensed child care in Ontario. Please note that exemptions for licensed child care centres (as per the CCEYA) expire when your child starts school. An exemption for school aged-children will be required at that time.
Vaccine exemptions for children attending school
- Have a physician or nurse practitioner complete and sign the Statement of Medical Exemption (Immunization of School Pupils Act) form and indicate the reason for the exemption.
- Make a copy of the document for your personal records.
- Submit the signed form to Public Health Sudbury & Districts in one of the following ways:
- Drop off in-person at any Public Health Sudbury & Districts location
during regular business hours. - Mail to:
Public Health Sudbury & Districts
Attention: Vaccine Preventable Diseases
1300 Paris Street
Sudbury, ON P3E 3A3
- Fax (directly from your health care provider’s office) to 705.677.9616 (confidential fax).
Step 1: Watch the required vaccine education video
If you have any questions or would like to speak to a nurse before proceeding, please contact us.
If you do not have the ability to watch the video online, please contact us to arrange to watch the video in-person at one of our Public Health offices.
Step 2: Fill out this form
Notify Public Health that you have completed the Immunization Education Session, by filling out the completion form. If you are seeking an exemption for more than one child, please complete a form for each child.
- Public Health will provide you with a signed and dated Vaccine Education Certificate by email, which is required to proceed with step 3 below.
- Please allow 10 business days to receive your certificate.
- Please make a copy of this certificate for your records.
- The document will be password protected.
- The password will be the 10-digit number provided above without spaces or dashes.
Step 3: Download and complete the Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief (Immunization of School Pupils Act) form
Download and complete the Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief (Immunization of School Pupils Act) form. Have the form witnessed by a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits. A notarized form is required for each child in school. Please make copies of your form for your records.
Step 4: Submit the original signed Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief form and a copy of the Vaccine Education Certificate to Public Health Sudbury & Districts
Submit the original signed Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief form and a copy of the Vaccine Education Certificate to Public Health Sudbury & Districts in one of the following ways:
- Drop off in-person: bring to any Public Health Sudbury & Districts location during regular business hours
- Mail to:
Public Health Sudbury & Districts
Attention: Health Promotion and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division
1300 Paris Street
Sudbury, ON P3E 3A3
Once Public Health has confirmed completion of the Immunization Education Session (through the completed form) and has the original completed Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief form, the exemption will be entered into the provincial Panorama database. It is a valid exemption for any school in Ontario.