According to provincial health assessments in 2026, Manitoba’s Southern Health Region has recorded the lowest childhood immunization rates in the province for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), and meningococcal disease. Just over 53 per cent of seven-year-olds in the region are up to date on their measles vaccines, lagging roughly 13 percentage points behind the area with the next-lowest coverage, as public health officials urge families to update shots ahead of the autumn school season.
Childhood Immunization Rates Lag in Southern Manitoba
Public health officials in the Southern Health Region are pushing for increased vaccination updates as children return to classrooms and confined spaces. According to the region’s recent population health assessment, immunization uptake sits significantly below ideal targets, prompting concern from local health authorities as colder weather approaches.
“For immunization, the uptick was higher compared to previous years but I have to mention the rate is much below the ideal goals,” Dr. Mahmoud Khodaveisi with the Southern Health Region stated. “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.”
Did you know? Early measles symptoms include fever or blotchy red rashes, while severe complications can lead to lung infections or brain inflammation.
Comparing Provincial Measles Cases and Mandates
Across Canada, reported totals vary widely based on provincial policies. According to provincial data, Manitoba confirmed 680 cases so far in 2026, resulting in 52 hospitalizations and six ICU admissions. By comparison, Ontario reported 31 cases.
Only two Canadian provinces, Ontario and New Brunswick, currently maintain vaccine requirements for children attending school in person. Manitoba previously had a mandate, but officials later repealed the requirement.
“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,” said McMaster University professor of medicine Dawn Bowdish. She noted that provinces with active school vaccine mandates experienced widespread success in preventing transmission.
“Oftentimes people have no issue with being vaccinated but maybe they moved provinces or they’ve had some disruptions during their childhood vaccine schedule and they simply don’t know that they’re not up to date,” Bowdish explained.
Education Over Mandates in Manitoba
Despite calls from health experts, the Manitoba government has no current plans to reinstate vaccine requirements for school entry. Instead, the province is focusing heavily on community outreach and educational campaigns.
“Our stance still is to try to provide as much information as possible to dispel the extreme amount of disinformation,” chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin said. “We’re here to build trust again, we’re here to build connections.”
Provincial health teams are currently deployed in local communities to engage directly with families. At the same time, health experts acknowledge that vaccines carry minor, manageable side effects that parents should anticipate.
“No matter how you do the math, the consequences of having one of these infections always outweighs some of the small but present risks of having a vaccine,” Bowdish said. “You can reasonably expect that as that immune system kicks in, your kid is going to be tired, achy, cranky and may need to sleep.”
According to Health Canada, rare side effects like fever-triggered seizures can occur in children aged 12 to 23 months in about one out of every 2,300 to 2,800 cases when the MMR vaccine is combined with the varicella shot.
Pro tip: Check your child’s immunization record well before school terms begin to account for multi-dose schedules that may require two, three, or four distinct appointments.
Frequently Asked Questions
According to regional health assessments, just over 53 per cent of seven-year-olds in the Southern Health Region are up to date on their measles vaccines, marking the lowest coverage rate in the province.
Does Manitoba require children to be vaccinated to attend school?
No. While provinces like Ontario and New Brunswick mandate vaccines for in-person school attendance, Manitoba relies on an educational approach and community outreach led by chief provincial public health officer Dr. Brent Roussin.
According to medical experts and Health Canada, children may experience fatigue, aches, crankiness, and fevers. In rare instances involving the combined MMR-varicella shot, fever-triggered seizures occur in roughly one out of every 2,300 to 2,800 cases for toddlers aged 12 to 23 months.
Join the discussion: Have you checked your family’s immunization records recently? Share your thoughts or questions about back-to-school health preparations in the comments below.
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