Kamloops mother Julie Smith has never doubted the importance of routine immunizations in keeping herself and her family healthy. Even following a febrile seizure during their routine 18-month immunization, she is committed to keeping her children as healthy as possible and keeping their vaccine schedule on track. “Children’s health and immunity is very important, it’s just an added layer of protection. I always get my vaccines including my flu shots and make sure we stay up-to-date.” Her identical twin boys Gabriel and Alexandrite recently received their 18 month immunization. One of the boys had a febrile seizure following his vaccination. Febrile seizures, also known as fever seizures, are a rare response to an immunization when a fever has developed. Although they can be scary to witness, they typically only last from 30 seconds to two minutes and are not harmful. Both boys are as happy and healthy as ever and Julie remains resolved to keeping up their layers of protection. Vaccines are available to protect against diseases such as cervical cancer, influenza, whooping cough, meningitis, chickenpox and hepatitis. In B.C., young children are offered vaccines at two, four, six, 12, and 18 months of age. As children get older and begin school, vaccinations continue to be offered. This is to help children develop protection against vaccine preventable diseases. Some vaccinations need booster doses as children enter their teens. “It is hard to imagine a world without vaccines” said Dr. Fatemeh Sabet, Interior Health medical health officer. “I am so grateful for having access to a simple tool that has saved millions of lives and prevented serious consequences of so many vaccine preventable communicable diseases.” The need for vaccinations does not stop as you get older. There are many vaccines recommended for adults. All adults in B.C. can get a booster of tetanus and diphtheria vaccine every 10 years. If you missed your basic series of vaccines in childhood, or depending on your health, age and other risk factors, you could be eligible for certain vaccines. “I feel privileged that families like Julie trust me as a nurse to provide such a gift and to work with them to promote and protect optimal health,” says Erin Fulton, a public health nurse in Kamloops. Nurses like Erin are always available to talk to individuals or families with questions about vaccinations. Contact your local health unit to speak to a public health nurse. Check out this article for five things you need to know about immunizations and vaccines. Visit our Immunizations & Vaccines page for information on important immunizations for infants, children and adults, as well as immunizations for travel.

In the past few years, British Columbians have faced increasingly challenging environmental and climate related events. Extreme heat, wildfires and floods are a few examples of disasters that have significantly affected those living in the Interior and the rest of B.C. This interdependence between our health and the environment compels us to continue our work to reduce our environmental footprint toward a low-carbon future. As we mark Earth Day 2023, here are a few highlights of our environmental sustainability efforts in the Interior region. You can also view and download a visual infographic of our projects and initiatives.

Name: Wendy Glover (she/her/hers)Job Title: Team lead, administrative support services, KB Community, Clinical Operations, SouthYears of Service: 26Worksite: Kiro Wellness CentreCommunity: TrailAncestral Territory: Syilx and KtunaxaFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: Several years ago, Wendy required a lengthy, complicated surgery, the anxiety leading up to which she described as “numbing.” She was reminded of how she wanted to approach the situation by the quote “get busy living or get busy dying” from The Shawshank Redemption. Administrative support service team lead Wendy Glover has a passion for helping and supporting others – from alleviating work from coworkers, to creating positive process change in the workplace, to ensuring the health and safety of her team. After 15 years working at Trail mental health and substance use (MHSU), she was promoted to team lead for the region, where she enjoys the work she does – particularly when she’s able to relieve stress from her colleagues through her organizational skills.

Thousands of volunteers of all ages work alongside our staff across the Interior Health region. Volunteers complement the care provided by our professionals, and are welcomed, respected and valued members of the IH care team. The incredible work, kindness and dedication of our volunteers make a huge difference in delivering outstanding care and positive experiences to the people we serve. National Volunteer Week is April 16–22, 2023. This year’s theme is Volunteering Weaves Us Together. This week, we are celebrating volunteers all around IH, and would like to introduce you to four outstanding volunteers who help strengthen our communities.

On April 14, 2016, the increasing number of deaths related to toxic drugs prompted the Province to declare a public health emergency. Six years later, more than 1,877 community members have been lost to toxic drugs within Interior Health. As this crisis moves into its seventh year it continues to take a toll on those left behind - mourning loved ones, friends, family, clients and patients. Those on the frontline providing substance use and harm reduction services are not immune to this emotional toll. Read their personal reflections of loss and hope as we mark this sombre anniversary.

Name: Dr. Glenn Gill (he/him/his)Job Title: Obstetrician and gynecologistYears of Service:  20Worksite:  Cariboo Memorial Hospital (CMH)Community:  Williams LakeAncestral Territory: Tsilhqotin, Secwepemc TerritoryFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you…” Matthew 7:12 When Dr. Glenn Gill was two years old, he travelled with his parents to India on the Queen Mary ocean liner. For the next 10 years, his father worked as medical missionary doctor in a jungle hospital. The same year he arrived in India, Dr. Gill was bit on the face by their rabid pet dog. He received 21 days of rabies vaccine injections in the abdomen, which saved his life. “I definitely am a believer in vaccines!” he laughs. Born in Toronto, he’s a husband and father of three grown children, and is a grandfather to four.

New financial incentives are in effect to attract health-care staff to Grand Forks, which has experienced ongoing critical staffing challenges. The incentives are available through the Ministry of Health and Interior Health (IH). “These incentives are part of our commitment to local patients and to our current staff and physicians who have remained steadfast in their dedication to Grand Forks and Boundary communities during these challenging times,” said Dr. Shallen Letwin, vice president of clinical operations, IH South.

Name: Stephanie Rodgers (she/her/hers)Job Title:  Interim Director Laboratory Quality, Safety and InnovationYears of Service: 16Worksite: Kootenay Boundary Regional HospitalCommunity: CastlegarAncestral Territory: SinixtAdvice to live by: I live by my Rodgers family rules: be kind, have patience, show respect, forgive and forget, eat healthy, go outside, and love one another. Congratulations to Stephanie Rodgers, a medical laboratory technologist (MLT) who was appointed to the role of interim director, laboratory quality, safety and innovation! Stephanie was born in Vancouver and raised in Richmond, B.C. She’s lived in Castlegar since 2007, located on the Sinixt Nation territory. Stephanie considers herself approachable, knowledgeable and compassionate. “I take pride in my work; I have a strong work ethic. I am dedicated to lifelong learning and want to learn as much as I can about the world we live in.”

Name: Linda French (she/her/hers)Job Title: Community nurse/long-term care case managerYears of Service: 27Worksite: KirschnerCommunity: Central Okanagan-SouthAncestral Territory: Sylix OkanaganFavourite Quote / Advice to live by: Life is too short to drink bad wine. Throughout her health-care career, Linda French has done her part for the community. Linda, who was born in Scarborough, Ont. but grew up in North Delta, B.C., started her nursing career at BC Children's Hospital in pediatric cardiology. She worked at Kelowna General Hospital in pediatrics from 1994-1997 and then transferred to community nursing in 1997. She now serves as a community nurse/long-term care case manager for the Central Okanagan-South. “I have been enjoying this challenging role for 26 years,” Linda said. “I’m an active girl who can't sit still and loves a challenge.”