Vaccine booth a first for winter fair

A booth set up at the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair to administer the measles vaccine saw “a few” takers, including infants, public officials said this week.

This is the first time a booth providing public health information on vaccines and immunizations has been established at the winter fair in Brandon, said Janice Loe, the public health services director with Prairie Mountain Health.

“Public health staff have administered a few vaccinations, provided education around measles as well as answered questions about vaccine eligibility,” Loe said in a statement.

Staff also checked people who were unsure about the status of their immunization records, she said.

Public health was on site from Monday to Thursday between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. in the MNP Hall on the main concourse at the Keystone Centre, Loe said.

The booth included signage about what steps people should take if they suspect they have measles and what symptoms they should watch out for if they’ve been exposed.

Staff have been administering the measles vaccine to infants at the fair, said Prairie Mountain Health CEO Treena Slate.

“I’m very proud of our public health team in Prairie Mountain for setting that up on very short notice,” she said at an unrelated news conference on Wednesday.

The number of confirmed measles cases in Manitoba accounts for more than half of all reported cases in Canada this year, with increased transmission linked to Manitoba Ag Days in Brandon from Jan. 20-22.

In late March, public health advised parents and caregivers to consider the risk of contracting the highly contagious virus when travelling or attending large gatherings during spring break.

The province reminded people that vaccination is the best way to prevent measles for yourself, your family and to protect those who can’t be vaccinated but may be particularly vulnerable, such as infants, people with weakened immune systems or pregnant individuals.

Officials are concerned the winter fair could become another superspreader event with thousands of people attending the event daily.

“We’re just following Manitoba public health guidelines and requirements for our event according to what is specified from their office,” said Kristen Laing Breemersch, manager of operations and acting general manager of the Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba.

Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said having public health officials at the winter fair was a “really intentional initiative” to meet people where they are and provide them with any information they may need about the virus and the vaccine.

“They feel comfortable approaching these folks and get vaccinated right there,” Asagwara said. “If you’ve got your little ones with you and need to get vaccinated as well, you can do that.”

The latest data from the provincial government, which is current up to March 28, show there were 393 confirmed measles cases and 61 probable ones in 2026.

Manitoba has had a total of 712 measles cases since January 2025. There were only 18 measles cases between January 2000 to December 2024.

The province didn’t have any information on whether measles cases have been reported at the winter fair yet due to the incubation and reporting timelines, a spokesperson said Thursday.

Measles is characterized as a red, blotchy rash that typically begins on the face and progresses down the body. It can appear three to seven days after early symptoms such as a fever, runny nose, cough, drowsiness, irritability and red eyes show up.

Measles spreads through droplets formed in the air from coughing or sneezing, by coming in close contact with an infected person’s mucus or saliva, or by touching objects that were exposed to an infected person’s mucus or saliva.

An infected person can spread the virus from four days before the rash appears to four days after. The virus can lead to ear infections, pneumonia and brain inflammation that can cause seizures, brain damage or death.

About 83 per cent of all confirmed and probable measles cases involved people who weren’t immunized, according to provincial data.

» tadamski@brandonsun.com