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:
- live in an Indigenous community in Manitoba;
- travel regularly to an Indigenous community in Manitoba; or
- have household visitors from an Indigenous community in Manitoba.
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:
- inmates of correctional facilities; and
- staff and volunteers of non-health-care community-based organizations in Winnipeg that serve people experiencing homelessness.
The following individuals with other risk factors for hepatitis A continue to be eligible for free hepatitis A vaccine based on existing criteria:
- people experiencing homelessness;
- people who use drugs;
- individuals with certain high-risk medical conditions; and
- gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men.
Eligible individuals can access the hepatitis A vaccine through primary care providers, local public health offices, nursing stations and health centres.
As of July 16, 2026, there have been 898 cases of hepatitis A reported since September 2024, with 197 hospitalizations, eight intensive care unit admissions and seven deaths. The majority of cases have spread through person-to-person contact. Inadequate sewage and water infrastructure in some remote communities has contributed to ongoing transmission.
Hepatitis A is an acute liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus. Some people with hepatitis A, especially young children, have no symptoms. Others can develop a range of symptoms from mild to severe. If symptoms do develop, the onset is abrupt and can include:
- fever;
- loss of appetite;
- nausea and vomiting;
- stomach cramps;
- abdominal pain;
- diarrhea;
- dark urine;
- clay-coloured stools; and
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).
Those with mild symptoms often recover within one to two weeks. The illness can be more severe in some people, especially those who have a weakened immune system or chronic liver disease and people over the age of 60. Individuals with a severe illness can have symptoms for several months.
Hepatitis A can spread through contaminated water, food and close contact with someone who has the infection, even if they do not have symptoms. Washing your hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds after using the toilet, handling diapers and before eating or preparing food can help prevent infection if you are exposed to the virus. Soap and water work the best for killing the hepatitis A virus. If soap and water are not available for handwashing, clean hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Anyone who develops symptoms of hepatitis A should contact their health-care provider, especially if they may have been in contact with someone who has been ill.
For more information, contact your health-care provider, public health office or nursing station, or call Health Links–Info Santé at 204-788-8200 or 1-888-315-9257 (toll-free).
For more information on hepatitis A, visit https://gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/diseases/hepatitisa.html.
For more information on vaccine eligibility in Manitoba, visit https://gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/cdc/vaccineeligibility.html.
