News Releases

July 3, 2026

Manitoba Health, Seniors and Long-Term Care advises the criteria for free hepatitis A vaccines have been further updated ahead of the 2026 Manitoba Indigenous Summer Games (MISG) taking place July 8 to 12 in Norway House Cree Nation and Aug. 10 to 15 in Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation.

The updated criteria are in place to help protect the MISG host communities and attendees, amid the ongoing hepatitis A outbreak in Manitoba. The outbreak, declared in April 2025, initially affected several communities in northern Manitoba and has evolved in recent months to include cases in several communities across Manitoba. Additionally, 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 free hepatitis A vaccine has been updated to include individuals aged six months and older from the following groups:

• community members in Norway House Cree Nation and Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation;
• anyone travelling to or working in these communities including the athletes, staff, volunteers and visitors attending the 2026 Manitoba Indigenous Summer Games;
• people who have household visitors from these communities.

Individuals are encouraged to get the vaccine as early as possible before the MISG events begin. However, attendees can still be protected against hepatitis A by getting the vaccine as soon as possible after the events.

The following individuals continue to be eligible for hepatitis A vaccine:

• Children born on or after Jan. 1, 2010, who are at least six months of age, are eligible for two doses of the hepatitis A vaccine if they:
  • live in an Indigenous community in Manitoba;
  • travel regularly to Indigenous communities; or
  • have household visitors from Indigenous communities.
• All individuals aged six months and older from the following groups remain eligible for a single dose of hepatitis A vaccine under the outbreak eligibility criteria:
  • community members in the Island Lake area (Garden Hill, St. Theresa Point, Wasagamack and Red Sucker Lake First Nations), Peguis First Nation, War Lake First Nation (also known as Ilford), Bloodvein River First Nation, Ebb and Flow First Nation, Cross Lake First Nation (Pimicikamak Cree Nation) and Tataskweyak Cree Nation (Split Lake Cree First Nation)
    • anyone travelling to or working in these communities
    • people who have household visitors from these communities;
• staff and volunteers of non-health-care community-based organizations in Winnipeg that serve people experiencing homelessness; and
• inmates of correctional facilities.

Additionally, individuals with other risk factors for hepatitis A can access the hepatitis A vaccine based on existing eligibility criteria. This includes:

• 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 June 21, 2026, there have been 826 cases of hepatitis A virus reported since September 2024, mainly spread through person-to-person contact. Inadequate infrastructure for sewage and water in some remote communities has contributed to ongoing transmission. There have been 183 hospitalizations, eight intensive care unit admissions and seven deaths since September 2024.

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#HA.

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