Blogs

Parents across the country are breathing a sigh of relief that a COVID-19 vaccine is now approved for emergency use in kids aged 5-11. We understand how exciting it is. It’s true that, overall, children have seen less severe cases of COVID-19 than adults, but that doesn’t mean they are not at risk. The question for any medical intervention should never be whether it is perfect, but rather does the benefit of the treatment outweigh the risks. In this case, multiple agencies with the most qualified professionals across the United States have almost unanimously agreed that yes, COVID-19 poses much more of a risk to our children than vaccination.

Now, that the information about COVID-19 vaccine booster and third doses has been reviewed, how do we make sense of it all? We will break it down here the best we can. You can also checkout SRHD’s vaccination FAQ page for more information. To get advice specific to your situation and health history it’s always best to discuss options (and questions!) with your primary care provider.

Flu season is upon us, and it is important to be prepared. There have been some questions around the flu and flu vaccine since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Let’s take a look at why we’ve heard so little about the flu since the pandemic began, why it’s so important this year to get your flu vaccine and how to get one.

Like any other year, Halloween comes with safety reminders. Wear bright colors so traffic can see you, don’t eat any unsealed candy, and just don’t trick-or-treat at the Johnson’s because they give out those weird orange taffy candies every year. We recommend those tried-and-true tips and a few more this year for a safer Halloween.

Childhood obesity awareness month is not only a time to recognize the health issues linked to obesity in children, but to celebrate our community’s progress in keeping our kids healthy. Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD) provides oversight to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – Education (we like to call it SNAP-Ed for short) activities for a ten-county region in eastern Washington. Through the hard work of our partnering agencies, SNAP-Ed works to educate and make changes that help kids choose healthy foods and activities. What does that look like in our region? Since school just started, let’s look at some examples in our schools!