Vaccinate early

In the first few years of life, your child is most at risk of contracting a serious disease that can be prevented through vaccines. These diseases can cause very serious illness and even death.

Vaccines make your child’s immunity stronger.

If you don’t vaccinate your child early, infection from certain diseases can kill or seriously harm them before their body develops a strong immune system. Vaccines use weakened or killed virus or bacteria to trigger your child’s natural immune response to provide long-term protection against a disease (without the risk of getting the disease). It is like a rehearsal for the immune system, so your child is prepared if they are exposed to the "real" disease.

Learn more about children and multiple vaccinations

Vaccinations are safe

Vaccines are strictly regulated medical products in Canada. Health Canada only approves immunizing products that are shown to be safe and effective in preventing the disease that they target.

In Ontario, our vaccine recommendations reflect:

  • regulatory approvals by Health Canada
  • emerging science
  • advice from experts, including Public Health Ontario and the Ontario Immunization Advisory Committee (OIAC)
  • recommendations on the use of vaccines in Canada from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)

National Advisory Committee on Immunization members are non-governmental experts in infectious diseases, immunization and public health. This committee regularly reviews all the scientific information available on the safety and effectiveness of new and existing immunizing products.

Vaccinations do not cause autism.

Medical researchers and scientists around the world have not found a link between vaccines and autism.

Read more common questions and answers about vaccines and vaccine safety.

Why you should vaccinate

Parents and guardians are responsible for their child’s health and well-being, including protecting them from vaccine preventable diseases.

We recommend that everyone in Ontario gets routine vaccinations per the Ontario Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule, as well as a yearly flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine every fall, for those aged 6 months and older unless there is a medical reason not to.

Making sure babies and toddlers are up to date with their routine and recommended immunizations helps protect their health and your community.

Protect your children from severe outcomes

Delaying or refusing some or all vaccines for your child puts their health and life at risk. For example, measles can spread to the brain, cause brain damage, and even death. Mumps can cause permanent deafness. Polio can cause paralysis.

There is no cure for diseases like measles, polio and tetanus. The best way to protect your child is by getting the vaccination to help prevent the disease.

Protect your family and community

Communities depend on high immunization rates to reduce the spread of diseases that are preventable by getting a vaccine. When more people are immunized, there is less risk for everyone.

The more parents who choose to not vaccinate their children, the greater the risk that infection will spread in the community and in schools. Those most at risk include:

  • people with weakened immune systems due to other diseases or medications they are taking
  • people with chronic medical conditions like lung, heart, liver, kidney disease or diabetes
  • newborn babies, who are too young to be immunized against most diseases
  • the elderly, who may be at higher risk of complications from diseases

When to get vaccines for your baby or toddler

You should vaccinate your children during their first and second years.

Learn more about RSV immunizations for eligible infants and high-risk children.

First year vaccinations

At 2 and 4 months old, babies should receive the following vaccines:

At 6 months old, babies should receive the following vaccine:

At 12 months old, babies should receive the following vaccines:

Second year vaccinations

At 15 months old, babies should receive the following vaccine:

At 18 months old, babies should receive the following vaccine:

The law

Children who attend school in Ontario must have proof of immunization against:

  • diphtheria
  • tetanus
  • polio
  • measles
  • mumps
  • rubella
  • meningococcal disease
  • whooping cough (pertussis)
  • chickenpox (varicella) – required for children born in 2010 or later

Parents are required to:

  • provide records of their child’s immunization to their local Public Health unit
  • update the information when their child receives additional doses of vaccine according to the immunization schedule

Learn more about vaccines and legal requirements for immunization of school aged children.

Exemptions

If your child requires an exemption from the immunization requirements for school attendance, please speak to your local Public Health unit. Children who are exempt from immunization are at increased risk of disease. They may be removed from school during a disease outbreak.

Children in licensed child care centres

The Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA) requires all licensed child care centres to ensure children have complete immunizations appropriate to their age before being admitted.

If you want your child to attend a child care centre (for example, daycare) and decide not to vaccinate them due to medical, religious or philosophical reasons, you will need to give the child care centre a valid written exemption. If the disease appears in your child’s care centre, your child may not be allowed to attend until the disease is no longer present.

Flu and COVID-19 vaccines for babies and toddlers

The best defense against infection and severe outcomes from the flu and COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. Unless there is a medical reason not to, everyone aged 6 months or older is recommended to get immunized against flu and COVID-19 each fall.

It is safe and convenient to receive both COVID-19 and flu vaccines at the same time, or at any time before or after other routine immunizations. Talk to a health-care provider or pharmacist to learn more.

Find out more about kids and the COVID-19 vaccine.

Find out more about kids and the flu vaccine.

Special medical conditions

If your child has special medical conditions or other high risk factors, they may need additional vaccines. Talk to a health-care provider or your local Public Health unit about other recommended vaccines.

Resources for parents and guardians

These resources can provide information about childhood immunization, share tips about improving a child’s experience, and to help you learn about infectious diseases and the importance of vaccines.

Vaccine preventable disease fact sheets

Find information, including risks, symptoms and prevention on: