Patient Guide · Mississauga

Back-to-School Health Guide for Mississauga Parents (2026)

The first bell in Peel rings on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 — and between vaccine records, school forms and checkups, the health to-do list sneaks up fast. Here is the plain-English version for Mississauga parents: what Ontario actually requires, how to report it to Peel Public Health, and where to get everything done in one trip near Square One.

Reviewed by the Medicare Clinic care team • Updated August 2026 • 9 min read

When does school start in Peel?

For the 2026–27 school year, the first day of classes for students is Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at both of Peel’s major boards — the Peel District School Board and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, per their published 2026–27 school-year calendars. (The school year officially “begins” September 2 on paper, but students are not in class until the 8th.)

That gives you the first week of September as a buffer — but clinics and ServiceOntario locations get busy in late August, so the earlier you sort records and appointments, the calmer your September will be.

Please note: health rules and school requirements change, and every child’s situation is different. This guide is general information, not medical advice. Confirm current requirements on ontario.ca and peelregion.ca, and talk to a health-care provider about your child’s care.

The vaccines Ontario requires for school

Under Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA), every child attending primary or secondary school must be immunized against the following diseases, unless they have a valid exemption:

• Diphtheria
• Tetanus
• Polio
• Measles
• Mumps
• Rubella
• Meningococcal disease (meningitis)
• Whooping cough (pertussis)
• Chickenpox (varicella) — required for children born in 2010 or later

The good news for your budget: vaccines on Ontario’s routine immunization schedule are provided free of charge for those who meet the eligibility criteria.

The doses school-aged kids typically need

Timing matters as much as the vaccine itself — Peel Public Health notes that doses given too early or too close together may not count. These are the school-age milestones from Ontario’s schedule (ontario.ca):

Not sure what your child has had? Check their yellow immunization card, or view their record online through Peel’s child vaccination reporting tool. Kids who were vaccinated in another country or province may need extra doses to meet Ontario’s schedule — a doctor can map their record onto the Ontario requirements. Our paediatrician, Dr. Odumah, and our walk-in clinic both provide vaccinations.

Report the shots — your doctor does not do it for you

This is the step that catches most families out. Peel Public Health is blunt about it: “Doctors do not report vaccinations” (peelregion.ca). Under the ISPA, parents and guardians are responsible for reporting every vaccination to Peel Public Health — when first registering for school and every time your child gets a required shot after that.

What happens if you don’t report

If Peel’s records show missing vaccines, you may receive up to two reminder letters followed by a suspension notice over a three-month period. Students whose records are still incomplete by the deadline can be suspended for up to 20 days under the ISPA (peelregion.ca). Often the child has actually had every shot — the record just was never reported. Once Peel receives confirmation, suspensions are lifted within a few business days.

How exemptions work

Ontario law allows two kinds of exemption from the required school vaccines (ontario.ca):

• Medical exemption — a physician or nurse practitioner completes a Statement of Medical Exemption (for example, a medical condition prevents vaccination, or your child already has proven immunity), and you submit it to the public health unit.
• Conscience or religious belief — you complete a vaccine education session through the public health unit (including an education video, after which you receive a Vaccine Education Certificate), then submit a Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief signed by a commissioner for taking affidavits.

In Peel, the original commissioned form must be sent by courier or registered mail to Peel Region, Health Services – Immunization Records, 7120 Hurontario St., Mississauga, ON L5W 1N4 — e-notarized affidavits are not accepted (peelregion.ca). Keep in mind that a child with a valid exemption may not be allowed to attend school during an outbreak, which can last several weeks.

Checkups, physicals and school forms

September paperwork rarely stops at vaccines. Most families also juggle some mix of school, camp, daycare and sports forms — plus the checkup that goes with them.

• School & sports physicals — Dr. Odumah, our paediatrician, offers school and sports physicals for children from newborns to teens, alongside well-child exams, growth and nutrition monitoring, and developmental, behavioural and ADHD assessments.
• Forms — bring any school, camp or daycare form to the appointment and mention it when you book, so the visit is scheduled with enough time. Ask the clinic when booking whether your form involves any charge.
• Eyes — OHIP covers one major eye exam every 12 months for children and youth aged 19 or younger, plus any needed minor assessments (ontario.ca). A vision problem is an easy thing to rule out before blaming the reading homework.
• Prescriptions — if your child uses daily medication (for example, an inhaler), refill it before September and ask your school what documentation they need to keep medication on site. Our on-site pharmacy, Main Drug Mart, can blister-pack and delivers for free.

On costs: OHIP covers the full cost of medically necessary doctor visits, whether at your family doctor’s office or a walk-in clinic (ontario.ca). Routine-schedule vaccines are free for eligible children, as covered above.

Sick kid, checkup or forms — where should you go?

The walk-in-or-doctor question gets more urgent when there is a school bus to catch. Here is the short version — our full guide to walk-in clinics vs. family doctors goes deeper.

Your two-week back-to-school health checklist

1. Pull out the yellow card (or check the record online) and compare it against Ontario’s required list.
2. Book catch-up vaccinations and a school or sports physical in one visit — bring every form you’ll need signed.
3. Report all vaccinations to Peel Public Health online or at 905-799-7700 — then save the reference number.
4. Book the OHIP-covered eye exam if your child hasn’t had one in the past 12 months.
5. Refill daily medications and ask the school about their medication paperwork.
6. Save the clinic’s number — (905) 848-4844 — for the inevitable mid-September sniffles.

Frequently asked questions

Which vaccines are required for school in Ontario?

Under Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act, students must be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, meningococcal disease and whooping cough (pertussis), plus chickenpox (varicella) for children born in 2010 or later — unless they have a valid exemption. Source: ontario.ca.

When does school start in Peel in September 2026?

For the 2026–27 school year, the first day of classes for students is Tuesday, September 8, 2026 at both the Peel District School Board and Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, according to their published school-year calendars.

Does my child’s doctor report vaccinations to Peel Public Health?

No. Peel Public Health states that doctors do not report vaccinations — parents and guardians must report each vaccine themselves. You can report online through Peel Region’s child vaccination reporting tool, or by phone at 905-799-7700 (toll-free 1-888-919-7800).

What happens if I don’t report my child’s vaccinations?

If Peel Public Health’s records show missing vaccines, families may receive up to two reminder letters followed by a suspension notice over a three-month period, and students can be suspended from school for up to 20 days under the Immunization of School Pupils Act. Reporting records or catching up on vaccines before the deadline avoids suspension.

Are school vaccines and checkups free in Ontario?

Vaccines on Ontario’s routine immunization schedule are provided free of charge if you meet the eligibility criteria, and OHIP covers medically necessary visits to a doctor — at your family doctor’s office or a walk-in clinic. OHIP also covers one major eye exam every 12 months for children and youth 19 or younger. Source: ontario.ca.

Can my child get a school or sports physical at Medicare Clinic?

Yes. Dr. Odumah, the paediatrician at Medicare Clinic in Mississauga, offers school and sports physicals along with vaccinations, well-child visits and developmental screening, and is currently accepting new paediatric patients. Bring any school, camp or daycare forms to the visit and ask about them when you book.

Can my child be exempted from the required school vaccines?

Yes, Ontario allows exemptions for medical reasons (a Statement of Medical Exemption signed by a physician or nurse practitioner) or for conscience or religious belief (completing an education session and submitting a commissioned Statement of Conscience or Religious Belief to the public health unit). In Peel, the original commissioned form must be sent by courier or registered mail. Students with a valid exemption may not be allowed to attend school during an outbreak.

Where should I take my child who wakes up sick on a school day?

For everyday illnesses like fever, ear infections, sore throats and rashes, a walk-in clinic or a same-day paediatric sick visit works well — Medicare Clinic near Square One offers both. For emergencies such as difficulty breathing or a serious injury, call 911 or go to the emergency room. If you are not sure where to go, call Health811 (dial 811) for free 24/7 advice from a registered nurse.