British Columbia vaccine schedule & school immunization requirements
Canada · BC
Last updated: 2026-07-08
💉 Vaccination Schedule
Birth
2 months
As DTaP-IPV-Hib (5-in-1)
(opens in a new tab) 💉 Polio (IPV) Dose 1Included in combination
(opens in a new tab) 💉 Hib Dose 1Included in combination
(opens in a new tab) 💉 PCV (Pneumococcal) Dose 1 (opens in a new tab) 💉 Rotavirus Dose 1Oral
(opens in a new tab) 💉 Meningococcal MenC conjugate (opens in a new tab)4 months
6 months
12 months
15 months
4–6 years
Grade 7 (age ~12)
14–16 years
🏫 School & Institutional Requirements
▶ 🏫 Public Schools (K–12)
Provincial law requires proof of immunization for designated diseases.
▶ 🏛 Private Schools
Private school requirements generally follow provincial standards.
▶ 👶 Daycare / Child Care
Licensed child-care centres require age-appropriate immunizations.
▶ 🎓 Postsecondary / University
Postsecondary institutions may have program-specific requirements (e.g., health sciences).
No specific provincial vaccine mandates at this level.
▶ 🏥 Healthcare Workers
Healthcare workers should follow NACI recommendations.
📊 Required Vaccines by Setting
| Vaccine | School | Daycare | Postsecondary | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DTaP / Tdap | ✓ | ✓ | — | View → (opens in a new tab) |
| Hepatitis B | — | — | — | View → (opens in a new tab) |
| Hib | — | ✓ | — | View → (opens in a new tab) |
| Influenza | — | — | — | View → (opens in a new tab) |
| Meningococcal | ✓ | — | — | View → (opens in a new tab) |
| MMR | ✓ | ✓ | — | View → (opens in a new tab) |
| PCV (Pneumococcal) | — | ✓ | — | View → (opens in a new tab) |
| Polio (IPV) | ✓ | ✓ | — | View → (opens in a new tab) |
| Varicella | ✓ | ✓ | — | View → (opens in a new tab) |
📝 Vaccine Exemptions
🏥 Medical
AvailableFor medical contraindications
Documentation: Submit form completed by a physician or nurse practitioner to the school or public health unit.
Renewal: According to the healthcare provider's assessment.
Approving authority: Physician (MD) or Nurse Practitioner
🔗 Find the current exemption form on the official site → (opens in a new tab)🙏 Religious
AvailableFor religious beliefs
Documentation: Parent/guardian completes the form. BC does not require notarization. Submit to school or public health unit.
Renewal: Typically one-time; may require re-submission if transferring schools.
Approving authority: Parent/guardian
🔗 Find the current exemption form on the official site → (opens in a new tab)✋ Personal Belief
Not AvailableFor philosophical or personal convictions
🏠 Homeschool Information
Requirements
British Columbia does not require immunization for homeschool students. The BC School Act and Public Health Act allow for immunization reporting in public schools (the Vaccination Status Reporting Regulation), but homeschool students enrolled under Section 12 (registration) or Section 13 (enrolment) of the School Act are not subject to school-based immunization reporting.
Reporting
No immunization reporting required for homeschool students. The Vaccination Status Reporting Regulation (BC Reg 64/2019) requires public and independent schools to report aggregate immunization rates, but homeschool students are not included in school-based reporting.
Exemptions
Not applicable — immunization is voluntary. Following the COVID-19 pandemic, BC introduced school-based immunization status reporting for public health planning purposes, but this applies to school-attending children and does not affect homeschool families.
Notes
BC's Vaccination Status Reporting Regulation (2019) was the first mandatory immunization reporting law of its kind in Canada, requiring schools to report vaccination rates to public health. This regulation does not apply to registered homeschool students. BC's approach to immunization remains voluntary — reporting is for public health surveillance, not enforcement.
🔗 Official Government Resources
📅 Recent Legislative & Policy Changes
2026-07-01
British Columbia immunization data added to Parent Decision Center.
🔬 Related Vaccine Evidence Pages
Each card links to the full VaccineDataNavigator evidence page — including clinical trials, VAERS data, pharmacovigilance, ingredients, and references.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
▶ What vaccines are required for kindergarten and school in British Columbia?
Provincial law requires proof of immunization for designated diseases. Source: BC Ministry of Health.
▶ What vaccines does British Columbia require for daycare and preschool?
Licensed child-care centres require age-appropriate immunizations.
▶ Does British Columbia allow religious or personal-belief vaccine exemptions?
British Columbia allows medical and religious exemptions; personal-belief exemptions are not available. Form available through HealthLink BC. No notarization required.
▶ How do I get a vaccine exemption in British Columbia?
Medical: Submit form completed by a physician or nurse practitioner to the school or public health unit. Religious: Parent/guardian completes the form. BC does not require notarization. Submit to school or public health unit. Official forms and links for every state and province are in the exemption forms directory.
▶ What vaccines are required for college in British Columbia?
Postsecondary institutions may have program-specific requirements (e.g., health sciences).