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Caring for kids new to Canada

A guide for health professionals working with immigrant and refugee children and youth

Immunization for newcomer children and youth

Many newcomer families experience logistical, linguistic, and cultural barriers to immunization. Some arrive in Canada without all recommended vaccines. And there is growing evidence that newcomer populations bear a disproportionate burden of vaccine-preventable diseases.  

Clinicians can help newcomer families navigate the steps involved in immunizing their children and youth. Whether it’s taking a culturally safe and antiracist approach to care, making time and space for judgement-free conversations, or providing access to information in a family’s home language, you can help improve the vaccine experience and ensure that newcomer children and youth are protected against vaccine-preventable disease.

Sections

This section of the website was developed as part of a project supported by the Public Health Agency of Canada’s Immunization Partnership Fund. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Vaccine information for newcomer families

Ensuring that families have accessible information about what vaccines are required and where to access them, especially before school entry, is important.

Some of this information may be available through provinces or territorial health departments, while in other areas, newcomer-serving agencies or community organizations are good resources. 

  • British Columbia: Immunizations for children new to B.C.

  • Manitoba: The Grade 6 school immunization program factsheet for parents and guardians is available in multiple languages

  • New Brunswick: Information about schedules and access

  • Newfoundland and Labrador: How children are immunized in the province

  • Northwest Territories: Some information is available in Indigenous languages

  • Nunavut: Information in English, French, and Inuktitut

  • Nova Scotia: School immunization program information, What to Expect After Your Child is Immunized, and consent form available in Arabic and Ukrainian

  • Ontario: School immunization checklists in more than 25 languages

  • Prince Edward Island: Information about how vaccines are given on PEI

  • Quebec: Regional health portals have information for newcomers, including vaccine information in some languages (see, for example, Montérégie)

  • Saskatchewan: Forms and fact sheets English and French

  • Yukon Immunize: Information in English and French