Manitoba urges parents to update children’s vaccines before school resumes

Manitoba health officials are asking parents to check their children’s vaccination records before the return to school, particularly in the Southern Health Region, where coverage remains the lowest in the province.

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For immunization, the uptick was higher compared to previous years but I have to mention the rate is much below the ideal goals.

A recent population health assessment found that just over 53% of seven-year-olds in Southern Health were up to date on measles vaccinations. That rate sits about 13 percentage points below the next-lowest area. The region also reported low coverage for mumps, rubella and meningococcal disease vaccines.

Measles cases across Manitoba peaked at 177 in February and fell to eight confirmed cases by June. Dr. Mahmoud Khodaveisi of Southern Health said officials still want parents to remain vigilant as colder weather brings more people indoors. “For immunization, the uptick was higher compared to previous years but I have to mention the rate is much below the ideal goals,” he said. “With the fall and the weather starting to become more cold and people starting to stay inside, we’re hoping that this doesn’t happen again and we don’t have many cases of measles.”

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With the fall and the weather starting to become more cold and people starting to stay inside, we’re hoping that this doesn’t happen again and we don’t have many cases of measles.

Manitoba recorded 680 measles cases in 2026, resulting in 52 hospitalizations and six intensive-care admissions. More than 82% of the cases involved people who had received no vaccine doses. Symptoms can begin with fever or a blotchy red rash, while complications can include lung infection and brain inflammation.

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There was a period of time where many of these contagious infections were lower and specific jurisdictions or provinces reduced the requirement or didn’t follow up on rules that were already on the book that required these to enter school.

Only Ontario and New Brunswick currently require children to meet vaccine requirements to attend school in person. Manitoba previously had a mandate, but repealed it. Dawn Bowdish, a medicine professor at McMaster University, said mandates in provinces that use them have helped prevent transmission. She also said families may fall behind after moving provinces or experiencing disruptions in childhood vaccination schedules.

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It’s thought this contributes to parents becoming aware of their child not being up to date.