We hosted a webinar last week on the upcoming respiratory illness season in partnership with Dr. Brent Roussin and the team from Manitoba Public Health. Vaccine uptake has been trending down in the last year, so physicians are being strongly encouraged to help improve vaccine confidence and uptake. 

How You Can Help

1. Offering both COVID-19 and Influenza vaccines in your practice, which is easier thanks to longer refrigeration timelines and new vaccine supply options. 
2. Placing an extra emphasis on those most at risk: age 65+ or between 6 months and 5 years-old, Indigenous Manitobans, individuals with underlying medical conditions, and pregnant people. 

Physicians have an important role to play in ensuring patients make an informed choice about immunization, and it’s equally important for patients to receive a clear recommendation from you to receive vaccination. 

Key Take-Aways

Our colleagues at Public Health discussed this year’s influenza, COVID-19 and RSV outlook, vaccine products, eligibility criteria, ordering procedures and more. 

Here are the key takeaways: 

• Season Outlook: Season forecasters look to Australia and the Southern Hemisphere for guidance, and so far there’s nothing unusual. H1N1 predominated in both regions, with similar or slightly lower levels of influenza, COVID-19 and RSV positivity in 2025 compared to 2024. 
• Vaccine Uptake: In the last five years, both influenza and COVID-19 vaccine uptake have declined. Public Health recommends physicians offer both flu and COVID-19 vaccines to clients at every visit, especially to those at higher risk. 
• Impact on Health Care System: Last year there were over 70,000 respiratory related ER visits. Some result in hospital and ICU admission. 
• Unvaccinated Hit Hardest: During the 2024/25 season, there were 38 total ICU admissions for COVID-19 and the flu, the vast majority of whom were not vaccinated. 
• Program Set-Up: All providers are required to register with Manitoba Health to be able to order either influenza or COVID-19 vaccines. If you haven’t already, be sure to register here.
• Multiple Vaccines at Once: Multiple vaccinations can be administered at once, without concern for decreased efficacy. 
• New Flu Vaccines: Fluzone continues to be offered in Manitoba, along with a new products called Fluviral and Flucelvax. Fluzone high-dose continues to be offered for those age 65+ along with a new alternative called Fluad. It’s important to look at the eligibility for Fluzone HD and Fluad for the 65+ population. 
• Universal COVID Vaccine Vontinues: Unlike Alberta, Manitoba will continue to cover the cost for COVID vaccines for all eligible ages (6 months and older). Only mRNA vaccines will be available this year. New this year are prefilled syringes for those age 12 and over. All COVID vaccines can remain in the fridge for at least 50 days, some up to 8 months – check the guidelines.
• Deliveries: Vaccine supplies are expected later this month with bi-weekly deliveries like last year. Remember, don’t book immunization appointments until after the last day of your assigned delivery window in the allocation emails to avoid confusion or disappointment with patients. 
• Estimated First Delivery Schedule: Manitoba Public Health is expected to begin shipping to priority locations and Group1 the week of September 22. Shipments to Group 2 are set to begin the week of September 29. Emails will go out to all clinics to provide the approximate delivery timeline. 

For more information, you can:

1. Watch a recording of the webinar on demand at any time. 
2. View the webinar slides that detail patient eligibility requirements, vaccine products, and ordering procedures, with links for more details.. 

Key Resources

Here’s a snapshot of some key resources: 

• Memo to Health Care Providers on 2025 – 26 Respiratory Vaccine Products & Eligibility (Manitoba Health) 
• Provincial Respiratory Virus Surveillance Report (Manitoba Health) 
• COVID-19/Influenza/ Pneumococcal Vaccine Quick Reference Guide AND Vaccine Comparison Chart (Manitoba Health)