Ministry of Education
Early Years and Child Care Division
315 Front Street West, 11th floor
Toronto ON M5V 34A
Date : August 18, 2021
Memorandum to: Child Care Licensees
Consolidated Municipal Service Managers and District Social Services Administration Boards (CMSMs and DSSABs)
From: Phil Graham, Assistant Deputy Minister, Early Years and Child Care Division
Subject: COVID-19: Immunization Disclosure Policy and Testing Requirements
This government is committed to supporting healthy and safe learning environments for children in child care settings. As Ontario continues with its vaccination program and rollout, amidst a rapid spread of the Delta variant, the province’s number one priority is getting as many Ontarians vaccinated as possible. All vaccines delivered as part of Ontario’s vaccine rollout provide high levels of effectiveness against hospitalization and death from COVID-19 and its variants, including the Delta variant.
As announced on August 17, 2021, the Ministry of Education intends to introduce an immunization disclosure policy for all publicly-funded school board employees, staff in private schools and licensed child care settings for the 2021-22 school year, with rapid antigen testing requirements for staff who are not immunized against COVID-19. This plan aligns with immunization measures already in place in Ontario’s long-term care settings, and new requirements announced in health care and congregate care settings.
The Ministry of Education will, subject to Lieutenant Governor-In-Council approvals, require all child care licensees to implement a COVID-19 immunization disclosure policy as an additional tool to advance health and safety. This information will also support local public health units to follow case, contact and outbreak management guidance.
At a minimum, the licensee COVID-19 immunization policy must require licensed child care centre staff, home child care providers, home child care visitors, every person who is ordinarily a resident of the premises or regularly at the premises, volunteers, students on educational placements, Special Needs Resources and frequent visitors to do one of the following:
Child care staff, home child care providers, home child care visitors, every person who is ordinarily a resident of the premises or regularly at the premises, volunteers, students, Special Needs Resources and frequent visitors, who are not immunized, including those with medical reasons, will be required to complete regular COVID-19 testing as directed in provincial guidance.
The means of obtaining, administering, and reporting the tests will be communicated in the near future.
Licensees will be required to track and report on the implementation of the policy and provide aggregated and de-personalized statistical information to the ministry and publicly disclose child care sector immunization status data on a regular basis. Subject to Lieutenant Governor-In-Council (LGIC) approval, this policy will be outlined in forthcoming regulations.
Further details and guidance will be provided to support licensees in implementing the proposed policy, testing strategy, and reporting expectations for early Fall 2021.
Promoting vaccination through a consistent provincial policy for schools and licensed child care settings will support our students, families and communities as we enter the 2021-22 school year. Thank you for your continued to commitment to the safety and well-being of students, staff and families.
Sincerely,
Phil Graham
