U.S. Doctor Recruitment Picking Up 

A story in today’s Winnipeg Free Press highlights early success in recruiting more physicians from the United States. Doctors Manitoba was first out the gate, likely across Canada, in launching a recruitment campaign just weeks after the U.S. election. The provincial government followed with a campaign in June, and reports that 6 U.S. physicians have moved or are confirmed to move to Manitoba, with about 30 more in various stages of exploration. 

“It’s very encouraging to hear that 2025 is shaping up to be a record year,” President Dr. Nichelle Desilets explained. She noted the highest number of U.S. trained physicians recruited to Manitoba in a single year over the last decade has been 6. 

Read the full article here.

WRHA Launches Flu, COVID Vaccine Campaign 

The Winnipeg Regional Health Authority kicked off the 2025 vaccination campaign this week. Dr. Bunmi Fatoye, medical officer of health for the Winnipeg health region, spoke to the media ahead of a vaccine clinic, emphasizing that the vaccines are free in Manitoba. She shared that there is a good match this year between the influenza virus in circulation and this year’s vaccine. 

Read the Winnipeg Free Press story here. 

The campaign lets Manitobans know vaccines are available now and pointed to vaccine clinics scheduled across the city.

Vaccine Resources Available 

With respiratory virus season underway, we want to make sure you have what you need to serve your patients best! Please visit the Doctors Manitoba Vaccine Program Updates page for new resources to share with your patients to help increase vaccine uptake.

Shared Health Canada Post Update

The Canadian Union of Postal Workers has moved from a nationwide strike to rotating strikes.

Effective October 15, the provincial health system resumed using Canada Post for non-urgent items only.

Clinics and service areas may resume the use of Canada Post for distribution of patient appointment letters and pre-appointment information that is NOT considered to be urgent or time sensitive. Staff sending packages and supplies to patients and urgent appointment letters will continue to use previously determined contingency plans.

Patients with upcoming clinic appointments at HSC may continue to receive their appointment confirmation by text message. The text messages from a Manitoba 431 phone number do not include patient information and will only identify the facility, date and time of the appointment.

Keep up to date on the Shared Health Canada Post Disruption Information page.