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.

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted health inequities in our country. The Hispanic population was one that was hit harder by COVID-19 than others. However, the contributions from members of the Hispanic community have positively impacted every level of the pandemic response from global efforts to work in our very own community. During Hispanic Heritage Month, we are taking time to recognize how important these contributions have been.

October is that time of the year where we start to anticipate cooler weather and pulling out our favorite cozy sweaters. We also get excited to carve pumpkins, decorate the house, and find the perfect Halloween costume. While October is considered the kickoff for many fall activities, it's also Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

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!

The timeline for the COVID-19 vaccine can be unclear to many, but if you want to look at the big picture, research began all the way back to the 1930s with the discovery of the first coronavirus infection in chickens. Decades later in 1965 Dr. June Almeida was able to identify a coronavirus under a microscope.