Curious about the HPV vaccine and if you are eligible to get it for free?
The vaccine is recommended and free for people who are:
➡️ 27 to 45 years of age (inclusive) who are:
▪️Men who identify as gay or bisexual or have sex with men
▪️Two-Spirit, transgender and/or non-binary
▪️Living with HIV
➡️Who were treated for abnormal changes to the cervix after a colposcopy (a procedure to examine the cervix and vagina) on or after July 31, 2025
Learn more at the link in bio.
Being a parent is challenging, and often comes with constant concern about your children’s health and well-being. One of the best ways to protect them is to make sure they’re immunized against vaccine preventable diseases.
BC’s immunization schedule is based on many factors, including how often and when certain diseases occur, who is most at risk, and how serious a disease can be for certain groups. Following the schedule gives kids the best protection when they need it most.
To learn more about when certain vaccines are recommended and why they’re important for children, visit healthlinkbc.ca
#bc #immunizationawareness
Vaccines work very well to prevent disease, especially serious illness. Did you know that the World Health Organization estimates that vaccines prevent 3.5 to 5 million deaths every year globally?
It’s National Immunization Awareness Week and a good time to review immunization records and ensure that you and your loved ones are up to date on all recommended vaccines.
If you have questions about immunizations, speak to a health care provider or visit HealthLink BC. #NationalImmunizationAwarenessWeek #NIAW #vaccineswork
Spring COVID-19 vaccine appointments are now available to adults 80 years and older, Indigenous people 70 years and older, residents of long-term care homes and assisted living facilities, and people six months and older diagnosed with significant immunocompromising conditions.
Notifications to book appointments are being sent out to adults 65 and older who are registered in the Get Vaccinated system, beginning April 22, 2026. People will be able to get immunized as part of the spring COVID immunization program until July 31, 2026. If you have questions about the spring COVID vaccine, call 1-833-838-2323.
It’s Earth Day, a day when many of us will be thinking about the land, water, and air around us — and how climate change is affecting our environment. If you have a reflection to share, consider submitting a story to Ecolens.ca
Ecolens.ca is a provincial storytelling platform that invites people across BC to share photos and reflections about how climate change is shaping their lives, communities, and health. Through an interactive map and themed collections, it brings local, lived climate experiences into the broader climate and health conversation.
As more stories are shared, ecolens will help the health system better understand emerging climate risks, community resilience, and the realities people are facing on the ground. This growing collection of lived experience will support more informed decisions that protect both people and the ecosystems we depend on.
It’s high time we had a conversation about cannabis... If you choose to smoke or take edibles on 4/20 (or any other day of the year), there are ways to limit the potential health impacts. Try to choose products with lower THC, avoid inhaling deeply or holding your breath when smoking, and limit how often and how much you’re consuming.
Young people are at greater risk of experiencing negative effects related to cannabis, especially if they start before they’re 16 and use it frequently or in high doses. Visit the link in the comments to see Health Canada’s lower-risk cannabis use guidelines.
#420 #bc #cannabis
Spring is here and just like the birds and the bees, you may be connecting with someone new. Consider getting tested beforehand, or as a regular part of your overall health and wellness.
Not all sexually transmitted infections show symptoms, so it's possible to have one and not know. Getting tested removes the guess work! Find a clinic near you at smartsexresource.com/clinics-testing
More than 18,000 people have lost their lives in the 10 years since the public health emergency was declared and many more have experienced harm including long-term health impacts like brain injury.
We grieve for those who’ve lost their lives as well as their friends, family and loved ones. We also recognize the constant concern and burden faced by friends and family of people who use substances and the front-line workers responding to drug poisoning events.
We extend our profound appreciation to peers, harm reduction workers, health and social service providers working to save lives.
Today we can show support for those affected by:
- Attending a local memorial event
- Speaking out against stigma
- Learning how you can support people who use substances and their families
Before things get heated, consider getting tested for STIs. Come to our clinic or one near you! Check out the clinic finder at smartsexresource.com #heatedrivalry #stitesting
From March to June, you can expect to encounter more ticks in BC — especially when you’re hiking or camping around tall grassy areas or forests. The Western blacklegged tick and the Rocky Mountain wood tick are the two most common species in the province. Some ticks can carry bacteria that cause Lyme disease and other types of infections. To protect yourself, take steps to avoid tick bites and remove ticks that become attached to you, your children or your pets as quickly as possible. To learn more about tick prevention and how to safely remove them, visit bccdc.ca/ticks.
#bc #tick #prevention
For World TB Day, we published the 2025 annual surveillance report on tuberculosis (TB) in BC.
358 people were diagnosed with TB in BC in 2025. TB remains concentrated in regions and communities experiencing higher levels of residential instability and social exclusion, highlighting the importance of embedding equity into all aspects of TB care and prevention.
There is incredible work happening across the province to monitor, prevent, diagnose and treat TB and respond to challenges like drug resistant TB. The report emphasizes the need for coordinated and sustained efforts to eliminate TB. #EndTB #WorldTBDay
There is an increased risk of poisoning because sedatives are being mixed in with opioids.
Here are some things you can do to reduce your risk:
• Buddy up. If you are alone, use the Connect by Lifeguard app
• If possible, have your drugs tested
• Sign up for toxic drug alerts. You will receive text messages about toxic drugs circulating in your area. Text Join to 253787 (ALERTS)
• Carry naloxone. If you suspect an overdose, call 911 and give rescue breaths along with naloxone
• The safest option is to avoid unregulated opioids. Ask a health care provider about alternatives like opioid agonist therapy (OAT).
Learn more about mental health and substance use supports by going to helpstartshere.gov.bc.ca
For Harm reduction supplies and naloxone visit towardtheheart.com/site-finder
