Eligibility for free Hepatitis vaccine expanded in Manitoba
Manitoba health officials have expanded eligibility for free hepatitis A vaccines following a significant outbreak that began in 2025. The virus has caused nearly 900 cases and seven deaths, with transmission linked to person-to-person contact and infrastructure issues in remote areas.
Why it matters
Public health interventions are critical to curbing the spread of infectious diseases in vulnerable populations and remote communities.
Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care advises that the criteria for free hepatitis A vaccines have been updated amid the ongoing hepatitis A outbreak in Manitoba.
The outbreak, declared in April 2025, initially affected several communities in northern Manitoba and has evolved to include cases in communities across Manitoba. In addition, an increasing number of cases have been identified in Winnipeg, particularly among people experiencing homelessness and those with connections to other outbreak communities.
Eligibility for one free dose of the hepatitis A vaccine has been updated to include all individuals aged six months or older who:
Children who meet one of the above criteria and were born on or after Jan. 1, 2010, continue to be eligible for a second dose.
The following individuals remain eligible for one dose of the hepatitis A vaccine as part of the outbreak eligibility criteria:
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