As National Immunization Awareness Week approaches from April 26 to May 2, 2026, health officials in Brandon and across the province are urging residents to stay up to date on their vaccinations to help stop the spread of preventable diseases.
The awareness campaign, themed The Time is Now! Get Immunized, comes as Canada works to address a significant decline in public confidence regarding vaccines. In November 2025, the country officially lost its measles elimination status after nearly three decades, a development that experts call a major wake-up call for the nation.
Manitoba has been at the centre of this trend, recording 393 confirmed measles cases and 61 probable cases in 2026 alone as of March 28. This figure has already surpassed the 319 confirmed cases reported throughout all of 2025. Provincial data indicates that 83.1% of these cases involved unvaccinated individuals, and there have been 41 hospitalizations, including four admissions to intensive care units, since February 2025.
To address the growing number of cases, Prairie Mountain Health has been working to make vaccines more accessible. This recently included operating a vaccination booth at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, held at the Keystone Centre in early April. The venue was notably linked to a measles outbreak earlier this year.
On March 31, 2026, the provincial government expanded the role of local pharmacists to help bridge the gap in care. Pharmacists in Manitoba are now authorized to administer measles vaccines to individuals aged 2 to 19. Health officials continue to encourage residents to seek out immunization options through their local public health offices, nurse practitioners, medical clinics, and pharmacists to ensure they are protected and to help improve community immunity levels.
