Immunizations, Vaccines & Cold Chain

UPDATED: April 11, 2025

Immunization Updates & Hot Topics

Pneumococcal Vaccine

Children Previously Immunized with Oral Polio Vaccine

Letter to Primary Care Providers (April 2024)
Q & As for Immunizers (April 2024)

Vaccine Order Forms

Vaccine Ordering and Pick-Up

To ensure your vaccine order is ready, we ask that you:

Use the current vaccine order form(s):
Use the vaccine return form when vaccine is to be returned to PPH
Bring your cooler within the appropriate temperature range of 2°C
Submit your fridge temperatures with your vaccine order
Only maintain a one month supply of vaccine in your fridge

Immunization for Children in Childcare

Children who attend a licensed childcare in Ontario are required to be immunized for the following diseases, as appropriate for their age:

Diphtheria
Tetanus
Pertussis (whooping cough)
Polio
Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib)
Measles
Mumps
Rubella
Varicella (chickenpox)
Rotavirus
Pneumococcal disease
Meningococcal disease

PPH works with childcare providers to ensure attendees have up-to-date immunizations and provides notices to parents when an immunization record for a child is not up to date.

Immunization for Children in School

Public health units are responsible for ensuring students who attend elementary or secondary school are immunized according to the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA).

Students who are not fully vaccinated can be suspended from school for up to 20 days or until the record is brought up to date. Throughout the school year PPH conducts ISPA enforcement activities. During enforcement, notices are sent to parents indicating which vaccines are overdue (per the record on file) and how to bring the record up to date. Parents will receive a minimum of two notices over a six-week period before a child is suspended.

In addition to suspension notices, PPH also sends targeted ‘Request for Immunization Information’ letters. These letters are a proactive method to update records prior to enforcement.

Letters to parents from public health may generate a high volume of calls, and requests for appointments or immunization records to your office.

School Based (Grade 7) Immunization Program

Each year public health provides the School Based Immunization Program to students in grade 7 (with catch up for students in grade 8). This program includes Hepatitis B, HPV, and Meningococcal vaccines. Detailed information about this program can be found here.

For questions about immunizations for children in childcare or school, speak to a public health nurse at 705-743-1000, ext. 242.

Immunization Exemptions

Parents may seek a medical or non-medical exemption for their child who attends childcare or school. Physicians and nurse practitioners may be asked to complete a medical exemption form if there is a medical reason why a child cannot or should not be immunized.

Influenza

Influenza Information for Health Care Providers (PPH)

Please check back for updates for the 2025 – 2026 Universal Influenza Immunization Program.

COVID-19

Spring 2025 Update

An additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine is recommended for previously vaccinated individuals who have completed their primary series and are at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection including:

Adults 65 years of age and older
- NACI recommends that those 80 years and older should receive an additional dose of vaccine while those 65 to 79 years of age may receive an additional dose of vaccine.
Adult residents of long-term care homes and other congregate living settings for seniors.
Individuals 6 months of age and older who are moderately to severely immunocompromised (due to an underlying condition or treatment). *
Individuals 55 years and older who identify as First Nations, Inuit, or Métis and their non-Indigenous household members who are 55 years and older.

COVID-19 vaccine is available to order and a reminder that all dose administered must be entered in the CoVAX. Please contact Patti Fitzgerald at pfitzgerald@peterboroughpublicheatlh.ca to enroll as a new user or to have your account reactivated.
Health care providers not offering COVID-19 vaccines can refer their eligible patients to COVID-19 pharmacy vaccine locations to receive their Spring dose. Eligible children under the age of five who may not be able to access a COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy can book an appointment at a public health clinic by calling 705-743-1000 ext. 331.
*For additional guidance on the COVID-19 vaccine including criteria for patients who are moderately to severely immunocompromised see Health Care Provider Fact Sheet: 2024/2025 COVID-19 Vaccine Program – Update.

RSV

Spring 2025 Update

Infant and High-Risk Children RSV Prevention Program

The 2024-2024 infant and high-risk children RSV prevention program has ended for the season, and doses of Beyfortus and Abrysvo should no longer be ordered or administered to infants, children, or pregnant individuals.
To ensure protection through respiratory season, it is recommended that children receive their dose of Beyfortus in the fall as the immunization offers 6 months of protection.
All remaining non-expired inventory is to be stored under appropriate cold chain for use next season in the provider’s offices.

High Risk Older Adult RSV Vaccine Program

The 2024-2025 High Risk Older Adult RSV program will continue into the spring and vaccines for eligible individuals are available to order.

More information about the RSV immunization program can be found at Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) prevention programs | ontario.ca.

Vaccine Storage and Handling (Cold Chain)

Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidelines

Vaccines must be kept between 2°C to 8°C to ensure they remain safe and effective. Best practices for vaccine storage and handling can be found in the Vaccine Storage and Handling Guidelines. A nurse from PPH will conduct an annual inspection of all fridges that store publicly funded vaccines to ensure best practices and minimize vaccine wastage.

Cold Chain Incidents (Adverse Storage Conditions)

When the vaccine refrigerator varies above or below 2°C to 8°C this is known as an adverse storage condition or cold chain incident and must be reported to public health on the date it is discovered.

If your vaccine fridge malfunctions, temporary storage and transportation of vaccines to a contingency site (i.e., another inspected fridge where temperatures are routinely monitored) may be necessary. An insulated cooler with temperature monitor must be used and temperatures must be maintained and recorded hourly during transport. Facilities can use the Vaccine Clinic Temperature Recording Log to document temperatures while transporting vaccine.

Preventing and managing a cold chain incident:

To report a cold chain incident:

Call 705-743-100,0 ext. 242 (M-F 8:30-4:30); or, 705-760-8127 (after hours, weekends, and holidays)
You will be asked to provide the previous 4 weeks of temperature logs and a completed Report of a Cold Chain Incident form