A Manitoba school trustee is questioning whether the province’s measles outbreak might have been prevented if student vaccinations had been made mandatory years ago.
Linda Ross of the Brandon School Division said her board asked in 2018 for vaccines — including measles — to be required for students. The proposal was voted down, mostly over concerns about parental rights.
Now, with measles cases rising, Ross believes vaccines should be required to attend school unless there is a medical reason not to get them. She says schools are places where illnesses can spread easily because so many students are close together every day.
Since February 2025, Manitoba has reported 520 measles cases and 27 hospitalizations, including 18 children under age 10. Two people have needed intensive care. The province says 85 per cent of cases involved people who were not vaccinated.
Dr. Gerald Evans of Queen’s University said studies show mandatory measles vaccines can lower case numbers, especially among children. Measles spreads quickly in schools, and high vaccination rates help protect people who cannot get vaccinated for medical reasons.
However, Manitoba’s chief public health officer has said the province is not considering mandatory measles vaccines right now. Health officials are focusing on building trust and encouraging people to get vaccinated.
Other provinces, including Ontario and New Brunswick, require students to be vaccinated against measles, with some exemptions allowed.
Manitoba once had mandatory school vaccinations under the Public Schools Act, but that rule was removed in 1999. Some legal experts say the province could bring back similar legislation, but it could face legal and political challenges.
Ross says vaccination is about protecting the whole community, not just yourself.
