Toronto Public Health Halts Student Vaccine Suspension Orders for the 2025–2026 Year

Toronto Public Health (TPH) has announced a temporary pause on student suspension orders related to incomplete vaccination records for the remainder of the 2025–2026 academic year. The decision is aimed at easing administrative pressure on families and schools while giving parents more time to update their children’s immunization records.

The change affects the city’s assessment program under Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) and takes effect immediately. While suspension orders will be paused, the requirement for students to have up-to-date vaccination records or a valid exemption remains in place.

Under provincial law, children between the ages of four and 17 must have routine vaccinations documented with their local public health unit to attend school. Parents who choose not to vaccinate their children must submit an approved exemption.

City officials say the decision comes as thousands of student immunization records are still incomplete. At the beginning of the school year, more than 50,000 student records in Toronto were missing required updates. Although many families have since provided the necessary documentation, approximately 30,000 records remain outstanding.

TPH emphasized that the pause is intended to reduce disruptions to students’ education and recognize the challenges some families face when accessing vaccination services or navigating reporting systems.

In a statement released Tuesday, the agency said it will continue to support families in meeting immunization requirements. Public health officials are offering community vaccination clinics where health cards are not required, along with multilingual guides explaining how to submit records. Public health nurses are also available to assist families by phone or through schools.

Ontario’s ISPA allows exemptions for both medical and non-medical reasons. Medical exemptions require a form signed by a physician or nurse practitioner. Non-medical exemptions, such as those based on religious beliefs or personal conscience, require parents or guardians to complete an educational session about vaccines and vaccine-preventable diseases before submitting official paperwork.

Public health units maintain vaccination records to help monitor immunization coverage and respond quickly if outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses occur in schools.

Toronto Public Health is currently reviewing immunization records for students in Grades 2 through 5 attending Toronto public schools as part of its ongoing compliance program. Officials say they will continue outreach efforts throughout the year to ensure families have the information and support needed to meet provincial vaccination requirements.