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Protect Yourself and Your Loved Ones This Respiratory Virus Season

Paper cutout family with vaccine

As we head into fall and winter, influenza (flu), COVID-19, and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) will be circulating in our communities. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent severe illness, hospitalizations, and the spread of these viruses. Everyone six months of age and older is encouraged to receive their annual flu shot and the updated COVID-19 vaccine. Those 65 years of age and older are eligible for an enhanced flu vaccine that provides more protection than the standard dose flu vaccine, and should also ask if they are eligible for the pneumococcal vaccine to protect against pneumococcal pneumonia.

New this year, RSV immunization is available for more people at higher risk. All infants born between October 1, 2025 and March 31, 2026 are eligible for a dose of nirsevimab, an antibody that helps protect against severe RSV illness. In addition, certain adults aged 60 and over — including those living in or moving into personal care homes — are eligible for the RSV vaccine. RSV can be especially dangerous for newborns, older adults, and people with certain underlying health conditions.

Vaccines are safe, effective, and available across Manitoba. To find a nearby clinic or pharmacy, visit the Vaccine Finder or contact your local public health office. Information about vaccine clinics in the Southern Health-Santé Sud region can be found here.

By getting vaccinated and practicing healthy habits like handwashing and staying home when sick, you can help protect yourself, your family, and your community this season.

Canada Post Service Disruption

Following news that the Canadian Union of Postal Workers has issued a national strike effective immediately, Manitoba’s health system stands prepared for this service disruption.

As a result of the strike, all staff and clinics have ceased use of Canada Post until further notice. This includes the distribution of patient supplies, notably for clients in the Manitoba Ostomy and Manitoba Home Nutrition Program, patient appointment letters and pre-appointment information.

Patients with upcoming appointments will instead be contacted by phone and / or email and provided with information in advance of their appointments.

Patients with upcoming clinic appointments at Health Sciences Centre in Winnipeg may receive their appointment confirmation by text message. The text messages, which will originate from a Manitoba 431 phone number, will not include patient information and will only identify the facility, date and time of the scheduled appointment. Messages will include the clinic phone number in the event patients wish to confirm their appointment by phone.

Patients will never be asked to disclose financial information over the phone or via email. Do not engage with anyone who says they require financial information before a health appointment. If patients have questions about the legitimacy of a call, they are encouraged to contact their clinic or care provider directly.

Information packages, facility maps and other important information that is generally sent by mail to patients and clients will be located on regional and / or facility websites for easy patient access.

If you experience a change in condition, need to change or cancel your appointment, or have questions about an upcoming visit, please contact your clinic or primary care provider.

We anticipate clinics will be experiencing a higher-than-normal volume of calls and appreciate your patience during this time.

For more information about health system operations during a Canada Post labour disruption, please visit: Canada Post Service Disruption Information – Shared Health. We also encourage the public to follow Shared Health’s social media channels for program-specific updates and information.

Southern Health-Santé Sud Urges Public to Protect Against Measles this School Year

As families across southern Manitoba prepare for a new school year filled with learning, activities, and reconnecting with friends, Southern Health-Santé Sud is reminding parents and caregivers to protect their children and communities against measles. With classrooms, extracurriculars, and sports bringing students together in close contact, now is the perfect time to review your family’s immunizations and ensure everyone is up to date.

Measles is a highly contagious and serious disease that spreads easily in places where people gather for long periods of time, such as schools, daycares, buses, and after-school programs. It can cause high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a distinctive rash. Complications are more common in infants, young children, and pregnant women, and may include pneumonia, brain swelling, miscarriage, or premature birth. Because measles can spread before symptoms even appear, vaccination remains the best protection.

What Families Should do:

  • Review immunization records for every household member
  • Ensure children, teens, and adults are up to date with their MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine
  • Book an appointment with your local public health office or healthcare provider if vaccines are missing
  • Watch for symptoms like fever, cough, or rash, especially after travel or attending large events.

Two doses of measles vaccine is almost 100% effective in preventing measles infection. Children typically receive their first dose at 12 months of age and the second between 4 and 6 years of age. Due to the severity of the current outbreak, Manitoba Health has expanded eligibility for the measles vaccine. Children aged 6 to under 12 months who fall into any of the following categories may receive one additional early dose:

  • Living in Southern Health-Santé Sud or Interlake-Eastern regions
  • Regular travel to and close contact with residents of those regions

The full list of eligibility criteria for the measles vaccine in Manitoba can be found on the Manitoba Health website.

For more information on measles and known exposure sites, please review the Measles General Information (Low German version) or visit the Manitoba Health website.

Healthy Together Now

Grant deadline applications are Dec. 1st, 2025!

The Healthy Living team is pleased to offer a $2,000 micro-grant focused on ‘Creating Connections in Our Community’ in Southern Health-Santé Sud communities.  

Details will be shared the first week of October. We strongly encourage interested organizations to meet with their Healthy Living Facilitator, prior to applying.

Projects will take place April 1st 2026-March 31, 2027.

Roots of Hope

Supporting communities across the region Roots of Hope icon

image of hands planting a tree

Roots of Hope is a community-led suicide prevention model developed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada.  This model is a tool to help communities build partnerships and take actionable steps to reduce the impact of suicide.  Roots of Hope provides guidelines for suicide prevention and life promotion initiatives though these are tailored to the needs identified by the community; initiatives could involve public awareness campaigns to reduce stigma, training opportunities for community connectors, peer supports and reducing access to high risk methods. Learn more about the Roots of Hope model.

Southern Health-Santé Sud is utilizing this model to support communities across the region.

For more information, contact Lindsay Hainsworth

Sun Safety

Did you know that even one sunburn during childhood can increase the risk of skin cancer?

young girl on poolside with sunglasses

It’s true! That’s why the Canadian Cancer Society has created SunSense). SunSense is a national sun safety program providing educators and parents FREE tools and resources to educate children about sun safety so they can enjoy the outdoors safely. SunSense offers resources for schools, daycares, camps and parents.

Schools and daycares play an important role in reducing childhood exposure to ultraviolet radiation and can help children develop good sun safety habits early in life. Join the SunSense School Challenge or become a SunSense Certified Daycare.

Register for SunSense to gain access to lesson plans, teaching guides and activity sheets, UV bracelets and UV paper, posters, postcards, staff training and more!

Visit sunsense.ca to learn more and register.

The SunSense program is delivered by the Canadian Cancer Society in partnership with Melanoma Canada.

Southern Health-Santé Sud Urges Public to Protect Against Measles this Summer

As families across southern Manitoba prepare for summer vacations, camping trips, day programs and summer camps, Southern Health-Santé Sud is reminding the public to protect against measles this summer. With increased travel and large gatherings during the summer months, public health officials are reminding residents to stay vigilant and ensure all eligible family members are fully immunized against measles. Whether you’re hitting the road, sending children to camp, or hosting visitors from out of town, now is the time to double-check your immunizations.

Measles is a highly contagious and serious disease that spreads easily through the air — especially in enclosed places where people spend long periods of time, like homes, bunk houses, tents, community centres, and vehicles during long trips. Measles can cause high fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes, and a distinctive rash. Infants and young children are especially vulnerable to complications like ear infections, pneumonia, brain swelling, or worse. As well, pregnant women could go into early labour, have a miscarriage, or pass measles onto their newborn. Someone with measles can spread the virus before they even show symptoms — making vaccination the best protection.

Vaccination is the safest and most effective way to prevent measles. It not only protects individuals but also helps shield those who cannot be vaccinated, such as infants, pregnant women, and people with certain medical conditions. The measles vaccine has been available in Canada for more than 50 years, first introduced in 1963. Since then, it has played a critical role in reducing the number of cases and protecting communities from outbreaks.

Protect Your Family Before You Travel or Camp:

  • Review immunization records for every household member
  • Ensure children, teens, and adults are up to date with their MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccine
  • Book an appointment with your local public health office or healthcare provider if vaccines are missing
  • Watch for symptoms like fever, cough, or rash, especially after travel or attending large events.

Two doses of measles vaccine is almost 100% effective in preventing measles infection. Children typically receive their first dose at 12 months of age and the second between 4 and 6 years of age. Due to the severity of the current outbreak, Manitoba Health has expanded eligibility for the measles vaccine. Children aged 6 to under 12 months who fall into any of the following categories may receive one additional early dose:

  • Living in Southern Health-Santé Sud or Interlake-Eastern regions
  • Regular travel to and close contact with residents of those regions
  • Evacuated from wildfire-affected communities in Manitoba

The full list of eligibility criteria for the measles vaccine in Manitoba can be found on the Manitoba Health website.

For more information on measles and known exposure sites, please review the Measles General Information (Low German version) or visit the Manitoba Health website.

Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System (LUCAS)

Southern Health-Santé Sud extends a heartfelt thanks to The Village Connection for their generous support in enhancing emergency care at the Centre médico-social De Salaberry District Health Centre.

Thanks to their grant, a crucial piece of Emergency Room equipment — the LUCAS (Lund University Cardiopulmonary Assist System) — has been purchased. This life-saving device delivers consistent, high-quality mechanical chest compressions to patients in cardiac arrest, improving outcomes and supporting our dedicated care teams.

LUCAS device being tested by two individuals
two individuals testing the LUCAS device

Southern Health-Santé Sud Director – Pharmacy Presents at Choosing Wisely Canada National Meeting

Rizwan Ahmed, Director – Pharmacy for Southern Health-Santé Sud, presented on behalf of the region at the 2025 Choosing Wisely Canada National Meeting, held in Winnipeg this past May.  

Rizwan Ahmed, Director-Pharmacy
Rizwan Ahmed, Director – Pharmacy | Southern Health-Santé Sud

This year’s event centred around the theme – Less, but Better, encouraging health care professionals to move beyond simply reducing unnecessary care and to focus on enhancing quality — for patients, the health system and the planet. The two-day national gathering brought together leaders and innovators from across Canada to share strategies, exchange ideas and promote sustainable, evidence-based practices.

Rizwan’s presentation focused on efforts to reduce the utilization of desflurane, a potent anesthetic agent with a high environmental impact. Desflurane remains in the atmosphere for approximately 10 years, compared to 3.6 years for isoflurane and 1.2 years for sevoflurane. With a definitive goal of removing desflurane from the Southern Health-Santé Sud formulary, the region has already achieved a nearly 50% reduction in its use since 2022. His presentation highlighted not only the clinical and environmental rationale behind this initiative, but also the practical strategies used to engage clinicians and support change. Ahmed’s leadership in this area reflects Southern Health-Santé Sud’s commitment to sustainability and high-value care in the delivery of health services.

Love My Community Challenge

Inspires Kindness and Connection Across Southern Health-Santé Sud

For the second year in a row, the Healthy Living Team launched the Love My Community Challenge to coincide with Mental Health Week in May. While last year’s initiative was directed at schools, this year we expanded the challenge to include organizations, businesses and community groups throughout the Southern Health-Santé Sud (SH-SS) region.

Originally created by students at Roseau Valley School in southern Manitoba, Love My Community Day began as a grassroots effort to spread kindness, create joy and strengthen connections across generations. The initiative encourages people to engage in small, meaningful actions that support both personal and community mental well-being.

Inspired by that vision, our team worked to extend the movement region-wide, inviting all schools and classrooms to take part by completing a community-focused project. These projects could be anything from neighborhood walks and cleanup efforts to intergenerational events, collaborative art nights or senior outreach activities. The possibilities to show appreciation and care for our communities are endless!

This year, 10 schools and classrooms submitted incredible projects that showcased creativity and compassion. Activities included movie nights, BBQs, street hockey games, mini pow wow, community clean-ups, handwritten thank-you notes, inspiring chalk messages, Pink Shirt Day events, and even beautifying local soccer fields.

To add a little extra motivation, five participating schools were randomly selected to receive a $200 prize to be used toward a classroom celebration—an opportunity to come together, build connections, and support mental well-being in a fun and meaningful way.

We were also thrilled to see several community organizations join the challenge this year. Their contributions included kindness rocks, Earth Day initiatives, senior lunches, parades, presentations, children’s concerts, art projects, and much more—each bringing joy and positive energy to their communities.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all the schools, classrooms and organizations that participated and helped foster a culture of kindness, connection and mental wellness. Your efforts have a ripple effect that reaches far beyond the challenge itself.

We hope the Love My Community Challenge continues to grow in the years ahead—and that even more schools and groups are inspired to get involved. Together, we can build stronger, more connected and more compassionate communities.

Healthier people. Healthier communities. Thriving together.