One thing that surprised me after moving to Canada is how seriously vaccinations are taken.

Before our children were enrolled in school, we were asked to present their immunization records to confirm everything was up to date. Even more interesting my oldest child, now a teenager, still receives scheduled vaccines in school. That was new to me.

In Canada, vaccinations are not just about children.
If you work in health care, having an up-to-date immunization record is often mandatory.

Some commonly required vaccines include:

• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
• Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP/Tdap)
• Polio
• Hepatitis B
• Varicella (Chickenpox)
• Influenza (Flu shot – often yearly)
• COVID-19 (depending on role and setting)
• TB screening

For children, immunization is compulsory for school admission, except for approved exemptions. Schools and public health units closely track vaccine schedules to keep everyone safe.

If you’re planning to relocate to Canada, make sure you:
✔ Bring complete vaccination records for yourself and your children
✔ Have records translated if necessary
✔ Update missing vaccines early especially if you plan to work in health care

It’s not just a formality here it’s about public health, safety, and access.

Relocating prepared makes settling in much smoother.