Vaccinations for child care centre staff
If you work in a child care centre, it’s required that you stay up to date on your vaccinations.
Child care centres must develop, maintain, and implement written policies and procedures to promote an effective, efficient and consistent approach to infection prevention and control.
These immunizations are required by the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014, Regulation 137/15 (CCEYA) This means the child care centre provider must ensure anyone working or living in the child care setting receive the recommended vaccinations.
Diphtheria, Tetanus
A series of at least 3 doses and booster dose every 10 years.
Pertussis
One dose of pertussis containing vaccine in adulthood. 10 years following your adolescent dose, which is typically received between 14 to 16 years of age. Pertussis vaccine is only available in combination with diphtheria and tetanus vaccine Tdap.
Polio
A series of at least 3 doses.
Measles, Mumps
Adults born in or after 1970, 2 doses of MMR vaccine or evidence of immunity by bloodwork. Adults born before 1970 are considered immune to measles and mumps.
Rubella
One dose of rubella containing vaccine, MMR. Rubella vaccine is only available in combination with measles and mumps vaccine MMR or MMRV, or evidence of immunity by bloodwork.
Hepatitis B
A series of 2 or 3 doses are needed depending on the vaccine product given, or evidence of immunity by bloodwork.
Varicella (chickenpox)
A series of 2 doses or evidence of immunity by bloodwork. Self-report of previously having disease is the disease occurred before September 2004.
Hepatitis A, Meningococcal
Vaccination is recommended for those notified by public health that they have been exposed to someone who has the disease.
Annual flu shot is strongly encouraged. However, proof of vaccination is not required at this time.
Exemptions
Staff may request an immunization exemption for medical, religious or conscience reasons.
- A physician or nurse practitioner must complete medical exemption documents .
- Religious or conscience affidavits must be sworn before a Commissioner of Oath, a lawyer, a Justice of the Peace or a notary public.
Staff must return the original, completed and signed documents to the child care centre provider. For more information on exemptions, please call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700.
In the case of an outbreak at the child care centre, staff with an exemption (or incomplete immunization records) may be at risk for infection and therefore may be excluded from working in the child care centre until the outbreak is over.
Health assessment requirements
Under the Child Care and Early Years Act each person employed in a child care centre must have a health assessment and vaccination as recommended by the local medical officer of health.
In Peel, the direction from our Medical Officer of Health is that a physician assessment for tuberculosis (TB) is required within 6 months before starting work. For more information on TB assessment recommendations call at 905-799-7700. Employees are not required to have a general medical examination either on beginning employment or at any later date.
