Canada's routine childhood schedule protects against 16 diseases (see the full Canada schedule). Doses your child has already had abroad almost always count - the job on arrival is to get them recorded and fill any gaps.
Your first weeks in Canada
- Vaccine programmes are run by each province and territory, so the exact schedule and school rules depend on where you settle. Your local public health unit can review overseas records and arrange catch-up doses.
- Ontario requires proof of certain vaccinations for school attendance under its Immunization of School Pupils Act (with medical and conscience exemptions). Other provinces collect records but rules differ.
- If there is a waiting period before provincial health insurance starts, ask the public health unit - routine childhood vaccines are often still available.
- Bring your child's written vaccination record with vaccine names, dates and batch numbers if you have them. If it is not in English, a translation helps.
Coming from: United Kingdom · United States. Another country? Use the comparison tool.
🇬🇧 Coming from the UK
Every disease on Canada's routine schedule is also covered in the UK, so a child who is up to date is unlikely to need extra vaccines.
The UK also routinely vaccinates against Meningococcal B, which Canada does not give every child. Keep the record of those doses - they still count.
Both countries cover diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and Hib and more, but at different ages, so a course started in the UK is finished on Canada's timetable.
Bring the "red book" (Personal Child Health Record).
Side by side: the UK and Canada ages for each disease
| Disease | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria | 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 18 months, 3 years 4 months, 14 years (school year 9) | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months, 4 to 6 years, Grade 9 or 14-16 years (province dependent) | |
| Tetanus | 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 18 months, 3 years 4 months, 14 years (school year 9) | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months, 4 to 6 years, Grade 9 or 14-16 years (province dependent) | |
| Whooping cough | 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 18 months, 3 years 4 months | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months, 4 to 6 years, Grade 9 or 14-16 years (province dependent) | |
| Polio | 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 18 months, 3 years 4 months, 14 years (school year 9) | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months, 4 to 6 years | |
| Hib | 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 18 months | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months | |
| Hepatitis B | 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks, 18 months | 2 months, Grade 6 (around 11-12 years) | |
| Pneumococcal disease | 16 weeks, 1 year (12-13 months) | 2 months, 4 months, 12 months | |
| Rotavirus | 8 weeks, 12 weeks | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months | |
| Measles | 1 year (12-13 months), 18 months, 3 years 4 months | 12 months, 18 months, 4 to 6 years | |
| Mumps | 1 year (12-13 months), 18 months, 3 years 4 months | 12 months, 18 months, 4 to 6 years | |
| Rubella | 1 year (12-13 months), 18 months, 3 years 4 months | 12 months, 18 months, 4 to 6 years | |
| Chickenpox | 1 year (12-13 months), 18 months, 3 years 4 months | 12 months, 18 months, 4 to 6 years | |
| Meningococcal B Only in the UK | 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 1 year (12-13 months) | - | Only in the UK |
| Meningococcal C | 14 years (school year 9) | 12 months, Grade 6 (around 11-12 years) | |
| Meningococcal A, W, Y | 14 years (school year 9) | Grade 6 (around 11-12 years) | |
| HPV | 12 to 13 years (school year 8) | Grade 6 (around 11-12 years) | |
| Flu | 2 years to school Year 11 (annually) | 6 months |
From each country's official schedule. Combination vaccines mean one injection can count for several diseases. Full United Kingdom schedule.
🇺🇸 Coming from the US
Every disease on Canada's routine schedule is also covered in the US, so a child who is up to date is unlikely to need extra vaccines.
The US also routinely vaccinates against Meningococcal B and Hepatitis A, which Canada does not give every child. Keep the record of those doses - they still count.
Both countries cover diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, polio and Hib and more, but at different ages, so a course started in the US is finished on Canada's timetable.
Bring the immunization record from your pediatrician or your state immunization registry.
Side by side: the US and Canada ages for each disease
| Disease | 🇺🇸 United States | 🇨🇦 Canada | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diphtheria | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, 4 to 6 years, 11 to 12 years | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months, 4 to 6 years, Grade 9 or 14-16 years (province dependent) | |
| Tetanus | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, 4 to 6 years, 11 to 12 years | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months, 4 to 6 years, Grade 9 or 14-16 years (province dependent) | |
| Whooping cough | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 15 to 18 months, 4 to 6 years, 11 to 12 years | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months, 4 to 6 years, Grade 9 or 14-16 years (province dependent) | |
| Polio | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 4 to 6 years | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months, 4 to 6 years | |
| Hib | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12 to 15 months | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 18 months | |
| Hepatitis B | Birth, 1 to 2 months, 6 months | 2 months, Grade 6 (around 11-12 years) | |
| Pneumococcal disease | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 12 to 15 months | 2 months, 4 months, 12 months | |
| Rotavirus | 2 months, 4 months | 2 months, 4 months, 6 months | |
| Measles | 12 to 15 months, 4 to 6 years | 12 months, 18 months, 4 to 6 years | |
| Mumps | 12 to 15 months, 4 to 6 years | 12 months, 18 months, 4 to 6 years | |
| Rubella | 12 to 15 months, 4 to 6 years | 12 months, 18 months, 4 to 6 years | |
| Chickenpox | 12 to 15 months, 4 to 6 years | 12 months, 18 months, 4 to 6 years | |
| Meningococcal B Only in the US | 16 years | - | Only in the US |
| Meningococcal C | 11 to 12 years, 16 years | 12 months, Grade 6 (around 11-12 years) | |
| Meningococcal A, W, Y | 11 to 12 years, 16 years | Grade 6 (around 11-12 years) | |
| HPV | 11 to 12 years | Grade 6 (around 11-12 years) | |
| Flu | 6 months | 6 months | |
| Hepatitis A Only in the US | 12 to 15 months, 15 to 18 months | - | Only in the US |
From each country's official schedule. Combination vaccines mean one injection can count for several diseases. Full United States schedule.
- Canada - Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) / National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)
- Ontario - Immunization of School Pupils Act
- United Kingdom - NHS / UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA)
- United States - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) / ACIP
Canada schedule last checked 2026-09-09. How we check.
General information, not medical advice. Your new doctor or nurse will advise on your own child, including any vaccines for health conditions or travel.
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