Measles, a disease once wiped out in Canada, is back in Manitoba. And it is hitting one group harder than any other: People who skipped the vaccine.
New public health data shows that nearly 90% of the province’s measles cases this year are in people who haven’t had even one dose of the vaccine. The message is loud and clear. The virus is finding easy targets in the unprotected.
Freepik / As of October 18, 2025, Manitoba has seen 253 measles cases. Health officials sorted these by vaccination status, and the results are striking.Out of the 253 cases, 221 people had never been vaccinated. That is 87.4% of all confirmed or probable infections.
Only 8 cases were in people who had one dose. Another 12 were in people with full protection, meaning two or more doses. The vaccine status for the remaining 12 cases is unknown. Still, that leaves a huge majority of cases clearly in the unvaccinated group.
Dr. Davinder Singh, with Manitoba’s immunization program, put it simply. The outbreak is being driven by people who didn’t get their shots. “The information demonstrates what we have been saying,” he said. “The virus spreads because of not getting immunized.”
Vaccinated People Stay Safer
Vaccines work. A single dose of the measles vaccine protects about 93% of the time. Two doses push that to 97%. So when vaccinated people get exposed, most don’t get sick. And if they do, the symptoms are usually mild.
The same can’t be said for the unvaccinated. Out of 253 total cases, 15 ended up in the hospital. Two of those needed intensive care. None of these 15 people were fully vaccinated. Most hadn’t had a single dose. And 12 of those hospitalized were kids under 10.
Why It is Spreading and What Can Be Done?
Manitoba’s outbreak is part of something bigger. Measles was eliminated in Canada back in 1998. But in 2025, the country has seen a huge jump in cases, mostly in areas where vaccine rates have slipped.
The province has responded by expanding vaccine access for babies as young as six months in those areas.
That is a big step, especially since measles spreads fast and hits hard. One infected person can pass it to up to 18 others.
So why are people skipping the vaccine? It is not just one reason. Some are hearing misinformation online. Others live in rural areas where it is harder to get appointments. And for some, it is just not seen as urgent until someone close gets sick.
But public health leaders aren’t sugarcoating the issue. They say the only sure way to stop measles is vaccination. Not vitamins, not luck, not waiting it out. Just two shots, given at the right time, offer nearly full protection.
That is why Manitoba’s health teams are urging people to check their records, talk to their doctors, and get protected. They are focusing on schools, clinics, and community centers to spread accurate information and make vaccines easier to access.