Vaccine Updates

Ministry of Education
Early Years and Child Care Division

315 Front Street West, 11th floor 
Toronto ON M5V 3A4

MEMORANDUM


TO: Child Care Licensees
FROM: Boafoa Kwamena, Director Child Care Quality Assurance and Licensing Branch
DATE: January 6, 2022
SUBJECT: Vaccination Updates

As vaccination continues to represent our most effective strategy to prevent COVID-19 transmission, the ministry is engaging in efforts to support greater access for child care and education staff to receive third doses of COVID-19 vaccines, and to promote continued vaccination for all eligible students.

Third booster doses provide an increased level of protection for people against severe outcomes and are the cornerstone of Ontario’s response to the threat posed by the Omicron variant to the province’s hospitals and intensive-care units.
The government values the important role that all child care staff and providers play in keeping children and families safe during the COVID-19 pandemic. Details on how to access a third dose are as follows:

Public Health Unit (PHU) Led Vaccinations for Education and Child Care Staff


Ontario is working with all public health units (PHUs) to plan and provide access to third doses for education and child care staff. Local PHUs will provide further information on how vaccines can be accessed in their communities. We ask school boards and child care partners to work with their local PHUs on how best to support vaccination opportunities. School boards have an opportunity to use schools as a site for vaccination together with PHU partners.

Licensees are encouraged to communicate with staff/providers and continue to monitor public service announcements in their communities around vaccine availability. Visit How to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment for more information on other ways to access a COVID-19 vaccine.

Priority Booking for Education and Child Care Staff

Starting January 7th, the provincial mass vaccination clinic, at the International Centre located at 6900 Airport Road in Mississauga, will support priority booking for education and child care staff.

The vaccination clinic is open seven days a week from 10a.m. to 8p.m. with specific appointments being made available for education and child care staff from 4:30p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Education and child care staff are invited to schedule their appointment through the Provincial Vaccine Booking Line number at 1-833-943-3900. Staff may be asked identifying questions, such as the school or child care centre in which they work, and/or their school board. General inquiries can also be answered at the same number or by visiting How to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment for more information.

If applicable based on geographic location, licensees are encouraged to provide a notice to their employees as soon as possible that includes the following information:

  • Confirmation that they are eligible for vaccination at the International Centre
  • Strong encouragement that they get vaccinated, as vaccines are safe, effective and the best way to protect them and those that they care for from COVID-19
  • Details on how individuals can book their vaccine:
    • Call the provincial call centre at 1-833-943-3900. Staff may be asked identifying questions, such as the school or child care centre in which they work, and/or their school board.
  • Direct them to bring the letter/email and proof of employment, such as a pay stub or ID badge, to the appointment as they may be asked to present this.

Please encourage your staff to be patient during this period, as it could take time for to book an appointment. Walk-ins at the International Centre clinic may also be accepted but are limited to capacity.

How to Book Earlier Appointments

If staff have already booked an appointment for a later date, they are encouraged to frequently check the provincial booking system for earlier appointments that become available.

Immunization Disclosure Policy - Monthly Reporting

On September 7, 2021, the Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) issued instructions requiring all licensed child care programs to establish an immunization disclosure policy. In accordance with these instructions, licensed child care programs are required to provide statistical information to the ministry related to the vaccine status of staff and home child care providers in the manner and within the timelines specified by the ministry. Previously, submission of this information was required on a monthly basis; however, for the month of January, the Ministry is waiving this data collection.
Licensees are not required to submit immunization disclosure data for the month of January.

This will provide licensed programs time to adjust to the provision of Emergency Child Care as well as the additional health and safety measures that have recently taken effect. It will also help ensure the ministry is collecting accurate and relevant data moving forward, particularly in relation to third doses.

At this time, however, the ministry is requesting information from all programs related to the number of staff and providers who have received their third dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. This information will support evidence-based decision making around vaccination in the child care sector and data collection in future months.

Please fill out the short survey at the following link before January 28, 2022: https://forms.office.com/r/7tyczCrJAm 
If you operate more than 25 licensed child care programs, you can submit for all programs using a single template that will be provided to you shortly.

If you have any additional questions, please contact your program advisor.

Original signed by:

Boafoa Kwamena


cc Children Services Managers, Consolidated Municipal Service Managers and District Social Services Administration Boards
First Nation Child Care Administrators