Vaccination Schedules For Kids In Canada

If you're a new parent, you're probably no stranger to a packed calendar of doctor’s visits. Between checkups, growth milestones, and the occasional sniffle, there’s a lot to stay on top of—and that includes your baby’s vaccinations. Shots might not be anyone’s favourite part (especially your little one’s), but they’re a powerful way to protect kids from illnesses we thankfully don’t see as often anymore, thanks to routine immunizations.

Vaccine schedules are designed to protect children at different times in their lives. No matter where you live in Canada, childhood vaccines are provided based on your province or territory's routine or catch-up schedules.

It’s normal to have questions or concerns about the schedule and the vaccines themselves. Staying informed about public health recommendations can help ensure your child receives the best protection. Here’s what you need to know about Canadian vaccine guidelines so you’re prepared for your kid’s immunizations at all points in their life.

Why childhood vaccinations matter in Canada

Vaccine programs have played an important role in limiting or stopping the ongoing circulation of serious infectious diseases in Canada. For example, according to the Government of Canada, cases of measles, mumps and rubella have decreased by 98 percent since those vaccines were introduced in the 1960s and included in routine vaccination programs in the country.

Vaccines are one of the most effective public health interventions. They not only make people less susceptible to infections and less likely to develop serious illness, but they also decrease the chances of spreading infection from one person to another.

Dr. Joanne Langley, a paediatric infectious disease physician at the IWK Health Centre and the Canadian Center for Vaccinology, says high vaccination rates for some diseases can create community or herd immunity, which protects vulnerable individuals who cannot be vaccinated. “If enough people in the community have immunity, either from previous infection or vaccination, that will actually protect people who aren't vaccinated,” she explains.

When it comes to kids, vaccines can protect them from diseases such as measles, polio and whooping cough, which can be severe or even fatal, especially in young children. “Vaccines prevent infectious diseases that can either cause death or serious illness,” says Langley.

She adds that these illnesses can have long-term impacts, such as damage to one’s brain, vision or ability to grow and develop normally. “Those diseases can also be very traumatic, both for the child and the family, so vaccines prevent those consequences,” Langley explains.

How vaccination schedules are developed in Canada

Vaccine schedules in Canada are not only designed to provide maximum protection at the ages when children are most vulnerable to specific diseases, but also created to be as accessible for parents as possible. They are based on extensive research and recommendations from national organizations such as the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and the National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI).

Maximum protection

Dr. Laura Sauvé, a paediatric disease specialist and the president-elect of the Canadian Paediatric Society, adds that schedules have been developed by public health and infectious disease experts to ensure that children are protected as early as possible. “They look at the infections that it causes, the studies that show when you can get the best protection, and they sort of balance those two things,” she says.

Accessibility for families

Sauvé also explains that public health experts try to balance the number of appointments needed for vaccinations. “If the schedule has too many visits or is too confusing, then it will be harder for families,” she says.

One common misconception is that multiple vaccines can “overwhelm” a child’s immune system when administered at the same time. However, according to HealthLink BC, receiving multiple vaccinations in one visit can have benefits like early protection, less pain, and fewer appointments.

Nationwide recommendations

Wondering why vaccine recommendations may differ across the country? Each province and territory has its own vaccination schedule based on expert recommendations from nationwide organizations and its own public health institution. This can lead to minor variations depending on where you live in Canada.

Along with slight changes based on location, childhood vaccinations are continuously reviewed and updated based on scientific evidence and disease patterns. Staying informed can help you be aware of any new information about your child's health care.

The typical Canadian childhood vaccination schedule: Birth to 6 years

Here’s a breakdown of the vaccines that are typically administered to children at different ages, according to the Public Health Agency of Canada. Combination vaccines are often used to reduce the number of injections, and some vaccines require multiple doses for full protection. Since the timing of vaccinations may vary slightly across the country, be sure to check your province or territory’s specific childhood vaccine schedule.

2 months

• DTaP-IPV-Hib or DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib: Protects from diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and hib disease. The vaccine may also protect against Hepatitis B, depending on which one is offered in your province or territory.
• Rotavirus vaccine: Provides protection against rotavirus.
• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine: Protects against serious infections such as meningitis and pneumonia.

4 months

• DTaP-IPV-Hib or DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib: A second dose is administered for optimal protection.
• Rotavirus vaccine: A second dose is administered for optimal protection.
• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine: A second dose is administered for optimal protection.

6 months

• DTaP-IPV-Hib or DTaP-HB-IPV-Hib: A third dose is administered at six months for optimal protection.
• Rotavirus vaccine: A third dose may be administered depending on the province or territory’s vaccination schedule.

12 months

• Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine: Depending on the province's or territory's vaccination schedule, a third or fourth dose is administered for optimal protection.
• Meningococcal conjugate vaccine (Men-C-C): Generally administered at 12 months to protect against meningococcal disease.
• Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR): Protects against measles, mumps, and rubella.
• Varicella vaccine: Protects against chickenpox.

18 months

• DTaP-IPV-Hib: A fourth dose is generally administered at 18 months.
• Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine (MMR): For optimal protection, a second dose may be administered.
• Varicella vaccine: A second dose may be administered for optimal protection.

4-6 years

• Tdap-IPV: A booster dose for children who were immunized against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis and polio when they were younger.
• Measles, mumps, rubella, varicella (MMRV): Some provinces or territories may administer this vaccine as a second dose to protect against measles, mumps, rubella and chickenpox.

What vaccines protect against

DTap-IPV-Hib vaccine

With just one vaccine, your child can get protection against five diseases – diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio and hib disease. Diphtheria is an illness caused by bacteria that produce toxins in the body. One in 10 people with diphtheria will die from the illness, with babies at a higher risk, according to the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPH).

Tetanus, also known as lockjaw, is a bacterial infection that first impacts the jaw muscles. It can make it difficult to swallow and speak, and can even be fatal if the bacteria reach the muscles that help breathing.

Pertussis, or whooping cough, is caused by germs that affect the throat and lungs. According to Sick Kids, children who get pertussis can have “spells of violent coughing,” which can potentially cause them to stop breathing for brief periods of time.

The polio vaccine protects children from the poliovirus, which, in severe cases, can cause paralysis. Hib is an acronym for Haemophilus Influenzae type b, a type of bacteria that can infect different parts of the body and cause meningitis. According to CPH, even with treatment, about one in 20 children with Hib meningitis will die.

Rotavirus vaccine

The vaccine protects against rotavirus, which, according to CPH, is the most common cause of serious diarrhea in babies and young children.

Pneumococcal vaccine

The pneumococcal vaccine protects against bacteria that can cause serious bloodstream infections, meningitis and pneumonia. According to CPH, when children get pneumonia from the pneumococcal germ, they can get ill very quickly.

Meningococcal vaccine

Without protection from the meningococcal vaccine, children risk getting serious diseases such as meningitis and septicemia. Meningitis is an infection that affects the brain and spinal cord, while septicemia is a blood infection that can lead to organ damage.

MMR: Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine

The MMR vaccine is a three-in-one immunization that protects children against measles, mumps and rubella, which can cause contagious infections and potentially serious complications.

Varicella vaccine

If you’ve had an itchy rash with blisters all over your skin as a child, then you’ve probably had a case of chickenpox, also known as varicella. The varicella vaccine protects against chickenpox, which is a contagious and sometimes serious infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus.

Hepatitis B vaccine

This vaccine protects children against hepatitis B, a disease caused by a virus that attacks the liver. Based on your province or territory, it is either administered during infancy or later in school.

Common concerns and side effects

Mild side effects

When your little one gets a vaccine, they may experience some mild side effects. These may include pain or swelling near where they received the vaccine, a mild fever, or fussiness. But there is no need to worry; these are very common.

To make sure your little one is as comfortable as possible, try putting a cool cloth over the area where the vaccine was given. Moving their arm or leg several times a day can also help reduce soreness. You should also ask your healthcare providers if you have specific concerns.

Myths and misconceptions

One common misconception is that vaccines are linked to chronic diseases. However, the Public Health Agency of Canada says research has disproved these myths and that there is no evidence that any vaccine causes chronic diseases, autism or sudden infant death syndrome.

There is also a myth that there are many serious side effects from vaccines. Not only do vaccines go through rigorous testing and monitoring in Canada, but serious side effects from vaccinations are very rare. For example, according to HealthLink BC, for every one million doses of a vaccine, about one person may have a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.

“I think one of the biggest myths that I hear people concerned about is that vaccines are not well studied and are not known to be safe, and it's quite the contrary,” says Sauvé. “We have a very strong system to ensure that vaccines are safe and protect children and youth from infections that can have quite bad consequences.”

Finding your provincial or territorial schedule

Even though there are national guidelines for childhood vaccines in Canada, specific schedules and vaccine availability can differ slightly by province or territory. You can find your correct schedule by checking online resources from your province or territory’s Ministry of Health or your local public health unit website.

You can also turn to the Government of Canada’s online tool, which creates a vaccination schedule based on your province or territory, your child’s birth year and month, and their grade in school. These sites also provide more details on publicly funded vaccines and other resources, such as appointment checklists and vaccine fact sheets. If you have more personalized questions, your paediatrician or other healthcare provider is a great source for information.

Keeping track of your child's immunizations

Are you wondering how to best keep track of your child’s immunization records? Here are a few ways you can stay organized with their health information.

If you prefer to keep a physical record of your child’s immunizations, you can use the provincial or territorial immunization record booklet or card provided at vaccination appointments. You can also turn to digital tracking tools or apps such as CANImmunize, a free app recommended by the Public Health Agency of Canada for Canadians to securely store their vaccination records.

Keeping records safe is important for your child’s school enrolment, travel and future health care needs. Tracking your child’s immunizations can also help you catch any missed or delayed doses. If this is the case, discuss it with your health care provider to get back on schedule.

Empowering parents with information

It may seem like there are a lot of childhood vaccines to keep up with, however, vaccination is a key step in ensuring a healthy future for your little one. Following the recommended vaccination schedule can help your child get maximum protection.

It’s important to recognize that Canadian public health has proven that childhood vaccines are safe and effective. “We only use vaccines in public programs and pharmacies that have already gone through rigorous evaluation to ensure that they work,” says Langley.

Along with recognizing that “vaccines work,” Sauvé recommends parents turn to their health care providers and paediatricians. “There are lots of health care providers who can answer specific questions, so either people's family doctors or their paediatrician or public health nurses who are providing vaccines,” she says. “All of those groups are excellent sources of information and can address specific questions that families have.”

Experts

• Dr. Joanne Langley is a paediatric infectious disease physician at the IWK Health Centre and the Canadian Center for Vaccinology.
• Dr. Laura Sauvé is a paediatric disease specialist and the president-elect of the Canadian Paediatric Society.