Nova Scotia vaccine schedule & school immunization requirements
Canada · NS
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.
Renewal: According to the healthcare provider's determination.
Approving authority: Physician 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. Not required to be notarized. Submit to school.
Renewal: One-time submission.
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
Nova Scotia does not require immunization for homeschool students. Under the Nova Scotia Education Act and the Home Schooling Regulations, immunization records are not required for homeschool registration or annual reporting. The Nova Scotia Department of Education and Early Childhood Development does not track immunization status of homeschool students.
Reporting
No immunization reporting required for homeschool students.
Exemptions
Not applicable — immunization is voluntary in Canada.
Notes
Nova Scotia's home schooling program (regulated under the Education Act and Ministerial Regulations) focuses on educational program requirements and does not extend to health or immunization requirements.
🔗 Official Government Resources
📅 Recent Legislative & Policy Changes
2026-07-01
Nova Scotia 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 Nova Scotia?
Provincial law requires proof of immunization for designated diseases. Source: Nova Scotia Health Authority.
▶ What vaccines does Nova Scotia require for daycare and preschool?
Licensed child-care centres require age-appropriate immunizations.
▶ Does Nova Scotia allow religious or personal-belief vaccine exemptions?
Nova Scotia allows medical and religious exemptions; personal-belief exemptions are not available.
▶ How do I get a vaccine exemption in Nova Scotia?
Medical: Submit form completed by a physician or nurse practitioner to the school. Religious: Parent/guardian completes the form. Not required to be notarized. Submit to school. Official forms and links for every state and province are in the exemption forms directory.
▶ What vaccines are required for college in Nova Scotia?
Postsecondary institutions may have program-specific requirements (e.g., health sciences).