School-Age Children & Youth Immunization

Kindergarten boosters are provided to children starting at 4 years of age.

• Tetanus, Diphtheria, Pertussis, Polio (Tdap-IPV) Vaccine
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella and Varicella (MMRV) Vaccine

These immunizations are provided at public health centres not at schools.. Some areas offer immunizations before children enter kindergarten and others offer them in the kindergarten school year. Please check with your local public health centre to arrange for an appointment. 

Your child should come to the appointment with a parent or legal guardian. If this is not possible, please talk to the local public health nurse before your appointment to discuss the consent process.

Students in grades 6 and 9 are immunized at school. Parent letters, consent forms and vaccine information are sent home beforehand.

• Completing the grade 6 school immunization consent form
• Grade 6 catch-up immunizations
• Grade 6 immunizations in BC HealthLinkBCFile
• Completing the grade 9 school immunization consent form
• Grade 9 catch-up immunizations
• Grade 9 immunization presentation (video)
• Grade 9 immunization in BC HealthLinkBC File

Immunizations are given at school to those students who have returned a completed and signed consent form. Your child will get a record after their immunizations. Keep your child’s immunization record in a safe place. They may need it later for school or travel to other countries.

Students and parents/guardians are encouraged to review the immunization information, discuss it, and together make a decision about immunization. However, parents should be aware that students can make an informed decision regarding immunization regardless of parental consent or refusal. This is referred to as “mature minor consent.” For more information see The Infants Act, Mature Minor Consent and Immunization HealthLinkBC File.

Some students can be nervous about getting a needle. The CARD™ System (C-Comfort, A-Ask, R-Relax, D-Distract) can help make it a more positive experience for students. This method teaches students about coping skills they can use during the procedure. Learn more about the CARD™ System  at cardsystem.ca or reviewing  Improving the vaccination experience: What is CARD for parents and caregivers.

How can you help your student to prepare before vaccination/immunization day? Suggestions are: 

• Pack a snack, if desired 
• Wear a short-sleeved shirt or something easy to roll-up to the shoulder 
• Bring a personal item from home to use. Please follow school rules regarding items (e.g., electronic devices).

Visit ImmunizeBC's webpage to learn how to reduce pain, stress, and anxiety with vaccinations.

• Speak to a public health nurse at your local health centre
• ImmunizeBC
• HealthLinkBC for vaccine information
• Catch Up Immunization Info Sheet
• Canadian Coalition for Immunization Awareness & Promotion
• Public Health Agency of Canada
• Caring for Kids

Parents can check their child’s immunization history using the online Vaccination Status Indicator tool to see if their child’s immunization records are on file with public health. This tool does not provide any details about their immunization status or history.

Learn more about getting your child’s immunization records 

You can provide your child’s immunization record to the B.C. Provincial Immunization Registry at www.immunizationrecord.gov.bc.ca,

If you don’t have your child’s immunization record, ImmunizeBC’s Tips for Locating Immunization Records.

If you don’t provide your child’s immunization record, they will be noted as unimmunized in the provincial registry. If there is an outbreak of a disease that is vaccine preventable at your child’s school, your child may need to stay home until it is safe to return. This helps protect your child from getting sick and spreading the disease to others - including children who cannot be immunized due to medical reasons.

Refusals are noted in the registry. However, your health-care provider may contact you to offer refused vaccines again. Sometimes parents change their minds and decide to immunize for different reasons. Mature minors are able to consent to vaccines on their own, even if the parent has refused.

Read more about mature minor consent

Children in kindergarten can receive any missing immunizations at the same time as their kindergarten shot at their local public health centre. Call to book an appointment.

Children in grades 6 and 9 will be offered any missing vaccines through school-based immunization clinics.

• Immunization status reporting next step in ongoing effort to protect against outbreaks (B.C. Ministry of Health)
• Vaccination Status Reporting Regulation (ImmunizeBC)
• Vaccination Status Reporting Regulation (HealthLinkBC)