Protect yourself and your community from hepatitis A
What is hepatitis A?
Hepatitis A is a virus that affects the liver. It can spread easily from person to person through:
- Unwashed hands (always wash hands with soap and water before handling food or after using the washroom)
- Food or water
- Close contact with someone who is sick
People with hepatitis A may feel:
- Very tired
- Sick to their stomach
- Feverish
- Pain in the stomach area
- Dark Urine
- Yellow skin or eyes (jaundice)
Some people may not feel sick at first but can still spread the virus to others.
Protect yourself and others
You can help stop the spread of hepatitis A by:
- Getting vaccinated
- Washing your hands with soap and water
- Practicing safe food handling
- Drinking clean water
- Not sharing needles or drug equipment
- Staying home if you feel sick
The best protection is the vaccine
The hepatitis A vaccine is:
- Safe
- Effective
- Free for eligible people in Manitoba
Who is eligible for the vaccine?
NEW: Expanded Eligibility for Children (JUNE 2026)
In response to the ongoing hepatitiis A outbreak in Manitoba, vaccine eligibility has expanded hepatitis
The hepatitis A vaccine is now available for
- All children born on or after January 1, 2010, who are at least 6 months old and:
- Live in an Indigenous community in Manitoba; or
- Travel regularly to Indigenous communities; or
- Have household visitors from Indigenous communities.
The vaccine is also available for:
- Anyone, 6 months or older, identified as a contact to a case during routine public health follow-up
- People travelling to or working in these communities
- Household visitors from these communities
- People experiencing homelessness
- People with certain medical conditions
- People who share drug equipment
- Inmates of correctional facilities
- The following communities are eligible for one dose of hepatitis A vaccine:
- Shamattawa First Nation (NEW);
- The host communities of the 2026 Manitoba Indigenous Summer Games (MISG) – Norway House Cree Nation and Sagkeeng Anicinabe Nation – effective July 2026;
- Tataskweyak Cree Nation (Split Lake Cree First Nation) – effective May 2026
- Cross Lake First Nation (Pimicikamak Cree Nation) – effective May 2026;
- Ebb and Flow First Nation – effective May 2026;
- Bloodvein River First Nation – effective May 2026;
- War Lake First Nation (also known as Ilford) – effective April 2026;
- Peguis First Nation – effective February 2026;
- The Island Lake area (Garden Hill, St. Theresa Point, Wasagamack and Red Sucker Lake First Nations) – effective May 2025
The hepatitis A vaccine is given as a two-dose series. During the current outbreak response, receiving the first dose as soon as possible is the priority. The first dose provides strong protection for at least 10 years, while the second dose provides expected lifelong protection.
For complete eligibility information, visit Manitoba Health’s vaccine eligibility page.
https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/publichealth/cdc/vaccineeligibility.html#HA
Get vaccinated today
Talk to:
- Your local nursing station
- Community Health Centre
- Public Health Office
- Health Care Provider
Don’t wait. Protect yourself and your community from hepatitis A
Working together to protect First Nations
KIM is advocating to expand the hepatitis A vaccine eligibility for all First Nations in Manitoba.
Right now, expanded vaccine eligibility is limited to communities and contacts with confirmed outbreaks. A preventive approach is needed as the Powwow season, Treaty Days, and other large summer gatherings approach.
We should not have to wait for outbreaks to occur before communities can access protection.
We are calling on the province to expand vaccine eligibility for all First Nations to help prevent further spread.
