Good afternoon Parents/Guardians/Caregivers,
We are excited to welcome students back to school tomorrow. Please find below a message from Toronto Public Health with important information for the school year, including a revised screening tool for daily self-assessment. You can also read the full letter here.
Thank you.
Message from Toronto Public Health
September 6, 2022
Dear Parent or Guardian,
Re: Toronto Public Health (TPH) Back to School Information
As you prepare your child to return to school this fall, here is some important health information.
Health and Safety Measures
Health and safety measures for the 2022-23 school year have been released by the Ministry of Education to help reduce the risk of illness from COVID-19 and other viruses and support in-person learning.
Your child is encouraged to:
- Stay home when sick to prevent the spread of infections.
- Complete the TPH School Screening Tool or Provincial School Screening Tool each day before arriving at school. Translated resources will be available.
- Clean their hands often and cover their cough.
- Stay up-to-date on vaccinations:
- COVID-19 vaccines: are available for everyone 6 months of age and older. A booster is recommended for everyone 5 years of age and older. More information on additional boosters is expected in the weeks ahead. Vaccine clinics continue to be offered across the City.
- Hepatitis B, Human Papillomavirus or Meningococcal vaccines: The regular in school student immunization program is starting. Students in Grades 7 and 8 will be offered hepatitis B, human papillomavirus and meningococcal vaccines in school this year. Students in Grades 9 to 12 who missed or have not yet had these vaccines can get them at a TPH immunization clinic.
- Routine vaccines: Contact your primary care provider to ensure your child is up-to date with other vaccines including measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, pertussis and chicken pox vaccines. Report your child's vaccinations to Toronto Public Health here.
- Masking: Though the Ministry of Education is not requiring masks to attend school in September, masks protect ourselves and others from respiratory infections, especially when indoors. More information is available here.
Town Halls: TPH will be hosting town halls for parents. No advance registration is required. Come to learn more about COVID-19 vaccines for children and have your questions answered
Additional Resources: For more information, please visit Toronto Public Health online including:
Sincerely,
Nicole Welch BSc., MSc., RN
Director/Chief Nursing Officer
COVID-19 Child and Youth Response Team