Grand Erie Public Health

Immunization is important and safe in all stages of life. Infants and young children are particularly vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases because their immune systems are less able to fight infection. Older children and adults also require timely immunizations to stay protected against diseases that are more common later in life.

Check Ontario’s routine immunization schedule to see when you and your family members should be immunized.

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Immunization Clinics at the Health Unit

Grand Erie Public Health offers no cost, publicly funded vaccines to all people who meet the eligibility requirements. Our vaccine clinic services are available for people who do not have an Ontario Health Card, do not have a family doctor, or have difficulty accessing their family doctor. Vaccination protects you, your family, and our community from serious diseases.

Please bring your child's vaccine records (such as the yellow book) to the appointment. Our nurses will update your child's vaccine records. It is important to keep your child's vaccine records in a safe place. You may need to present proof of vaccination for multiple reasons including:

School vaccine requirements (Immunization of School Pupils Act)
Changing family doctors
Traveling
Community Outbreaks
Requirements for volunteering
Requirements for post-secondary education admission
Employment

When attending your appointment, wear a short‑sleeved shirt and eat before your visit. Plan to remain on site for 15 minutes after vaccination for observation.

Please select the health unit region listed in the drop downs below to book an appointment.

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Brantford-Brant

Immunization services in Brantford-Brant are by appointment only. We do not currently accept walk-ins.

To book an appointment, call 519-753-4937 ext. 451 or email immunizationintake@geph.ca (please note, emails are not a secure method of sharing personal health information).

Please provide the following details in your message:

Your name
Contact information
Your relationship to the person requiring an appointment
Name, date of birth, and Health Card number (if you have one) of the person requiring an appointment
Preferred clinic date and time (clinics are booked on a first come first serve basis)

We encourage you to update your child's immunization records online before attending your appointment.

Update your child's immunization records here

Haldimand-Norfolk

Book your appointment here

If you are unable to book online or require further assistance booking an appointment in Haldimand-Norfolk, call 519-900-9600 ext. 3214 or email vpdhn@geph.ca (please note, emails are not a secure method of sharing personal health information).

Please provide the following details in your message:

Your name
Contact information
Your relationship to the person requiring an appointment
Name, date of birth, and Health Card number (if you have one) of the person requiring an appointment
Preferred clinic date and time (clinics are booked on a first come first serve basis)

We encourage you to update your child's immunization records online before attending your appointment.

Update your child's immunization records here

Vaccine Exemptions

Vaccination protects children from serious diseases such as measles, polio, diphtheria, and tetanus. Vaccines are safe and effective because they help the immune system learn how to fight disease. As a parent or guardian, you can keep your children healthy by following Ontario's Routine Immunization Schedule.

Understanding the law

To keep communities safe, immunizations are required under the Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA) and the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) for children to attend child care and school in Ontario.

Some children are not immunized because of medical or non‑medical reasons. To exempt your child, review the information below.

Disease outbreaks at school or licensed daycare

If your child is not immunized and there is a disease of public health significance outbreak at their school or licensed daycare, the Medical Officer of Health may exclude your child from attending school or daycare until the outbreak is declared over. This is to protect your child’s health and reduce the spread of disease.

COVID‑19 vaccinations

Although the COVID‑19 vaccine helps reduce the risk of outbreaks in schools, it is not currently required under the Child Care and Early Years Act or the Immunization of School Pupils Act. Students who are not immunized against COVID‑19 do not require an exemption.

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Exemptions for Children in Licensed Child Care Centres (0–4 years)

There are two types of vaccine exemptions: medical and non‑medical (conscience or religious belief).

Non‑Medical Exemption (Conscience or Religious Belief):

Complete the Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief for the Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA). This affidavit is for children who are not yet in school and are 4 years of age or younger. Completing the Immunization Education Session is not required for exemptions under the CCEYA.
Take the completed form to a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits (see Signing the Affidavit below) to have it signed and stamped.
Bring the original affidavit to one of our locations where it will be copied and entered into the provincial database:
- Brantford: 194 Terrace Hill St.
- Simcoe: 185 Robinson St.
- Caledonia: 100 Haddington St.

Note: It is your responsibility to keep the original affidavit until your child is entering school. You will be required to complete a new affidavit under the Immunization of School Pupils Act.

Medical Exemption:

If your child cannot be immunized for medical reasons, have your child’s doctor or nurse practitioner complete a Statement of Medical Exemption (Child Care and Early Years) form.
Bring the original affidavit to one of our locations where it will be copied and entered into the provincial database:
- Brantford: 194 Terrace Hill St.
- Simcoe: 185 Robinson St.
- Caledonia: 100 Haddington St.

Note: A physician or nurse practitioner must complete a Statement of Medical Exemption for children who require a medical exemption from vaccine requirements under the Immunization of School Pupils Act and the Child Care and Early Years Act. You are not required to have a Medical Exemption signed by a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits. Please also note that completing the Immunization Education Session is not required for this medical exemption.

Exemptions for School‑Aged Children (4–17 years)

Since immunizations are required by law for children 4 to 17 years of age to attend school in Ontario, an affidavit is required if a child will not be immunized. There are two types of exemptions: medical and non‑medical (conscience or religious belief).

Please select the region where your child attends school in the drop downs listed below.

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Non Medical Exemption (Conscious or Religious Belief)

This exemption requires an affidavit and completion of a mandatory Immunization Education Session. Follow the steps below.

Watch the mandatory Immunization Education video covering:
- Basic information about immunization
- Vaccine safety
- Immunization and community health
- Immunization law in Ontario
Complete the follow‑up survey and submit to GEPH.

Note: If you are submitting an exemption for more than one child, you only need to watch the video and complete the survey once. A Vaccine Education Certificate will be emailed to you for your records. A parent or guardian who completes the session will not be required to do it again for future exemptions. The school does not require a copy of this form. All exemptions are managed through the public health unit.

To begin the immunization education session, please select the region where your child attends school from the buttons below.

Brantford-Brant

Haldimand-Norfolk

Watch the mandatory immunization education video above.
Complete the ISPA Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief form.
Take the completed form and the Vaccine Education Certificate (emailed to you once the immunization education session is completed) to a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits (see Signing the Affidavit below) to have it signed and stamped.
Bring the original affidavit and Vaccine Education Certificate to one of our locations based on where your child attends school. The affidavit and certificate will be copied and entered into the provincial database:
- Brantford: 194 Terrace Hill St.
- Simcoe: 185 Robinson St.
- Caledonia: 100 Haddington St.

Note: It is your responsibility to keep the original affidavit and Vaccine Education Certificate until your child is 18 years of age.

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Medical Exemption

Note: Completing the Immunization Education Session is not required for a medical exemption.

If your child cannot be immunized for medical reasons, have your child's doctor or nurse practitioner complete a Statement of Medical Exemption (School Pupils) Form.
Bring the original affidavit to one of our locations based on where your child attends school to be copied and entered into the provincial database:
- Brantford: 194 Terrace Hill St.
- Simcoe: 185 Robinson St.
- Caledonia: 100 Haddington St.

Note: A medical exemption form does not require a signature from a Commissioner for Taking Affidavits.

Signing the Affidavit

Fill out the form with the child’s information. For the Immunization of School Pupils Act exemption, check off which vaccines you would like the child to be exempt from receiving. Have the affidavit signed and stamped by a Commissioner of Oaths, Notary Public, or Justice of the Peace. The information on the affidavit cannot be altered.

Commissioner of Oaths

A Commissioner of Oaths is a person authorized to take your oath in person when you sign the legal affidavit. Commissioners of Oaths include:

Regional Clerk or Deputy Regional Clerk
City Clerk or Deputy Clerk
Treasurer or Deputy Treasurers of municipalities
Justices of the Peace
Lawyers
Licensed Paralegals
Member of Parliament
Member of Provincial Parliament
Some staff at ServiceOntario centres (availability varies; some may choose not to sign exemption forms)

Note: There may be a cost to have the form signed, and photo ID will be required.

Links and Resources

Vaccine Requirements for School Attendance

Vaccine Requirements for Daycare Attendance

Preparing for Vaccines