Check out our blog posts below on a variety of topics related to COVID-19 and the pandemic. This page is updated regularly.<\/p>\n
New Pandemic Recovery Projects Helping BC Advance Equity and Community Resiliency<\/a>: We continue to be hard at work supporting pandemic recovery in our province. In this blog post, learn about some impactful projects we’re working on to advance equity and community resiliency in BC, as we shift towards the future.<\/p>\n Building on Lessons Learned: COVID-19 SPEAK 1 & 2 Survey Update<\/a>: We\u2019re thrilled to share that the research methods for the BC COVID-19 SPEAK Surveys 1 & 2 that we funded have been published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health.<\/p>\n Your Health, Our Commitment campaign<\/a>: Through Your Health, Our Commitment, we are strengthening public health to foster healthy and resilient communities. Click over to learn more, and how you can support this important campaign.<\/p>\n Monitoring the Effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines in British Columbia<\/a>: We\u2019re pleased to be funding groundbreaking COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness research coming out of the BC Centre for Disease Control. In this blog post, read about this novel research that informs changes to vaccine programming and evidence-based decision-making, especially in relation to variations in pandemic waves and variants of concern in British Columbia.<\/p>\n Vaccination: Our Strongest Tool in Our COVID-19 Toolkit<\/a>: One of the clearest Activate Health messages we\u2019ve had since COVID-19 vaccines became available, and one of the clearest ways we can each, as individuals, protect the health and safety of the population, is through vaccination\u2014our strongest tool in our toolkit\u2014true before COVID-19, and will remain true after COVID-19.<\/p>\n Providing Evidence to Guide COVID-19 Response: BC COVID-19 SPEAK 2 Survey and Interactive Dashboard<\/a>: The Foundation is proud to have funded the BC COVID-19 SPEAK 2 Survey that has been informing BC\u2019s COVID-19 decision-making and policies. In our blog post, you can learn more and view the dashboard to see how these data are critical for response and recovery in BC.<\/p>\n Project Update: BCCDC\u2019s COVID-19 Wastewater Surveillance in Metro Vancouver Communities<\/a>: With the help of some funding from the Foundation, Dr Melissa Glier and Dr Natalie Prystajecky provide an update on their research progress on how wastewater data continues to be used in the pandemic response.<\/p>\n Our Role in Helping to Address the COVID-19 Pandemic<\/a>: As a small public health organization during a global pandemic, we\u2019re proud of what we\u2019ve accomplished over the past 19 months. We invite you to come along this reflective journey with us.<\/p>\n Impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Health and Well-Being of Young Adults in British Columbia<\/a>: The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted all of us, though, some more than others. The BC COVID-19 SPEAK Survey we funded last year showed one key group that was experiencing significant unintended consequences of the pandemic: young adults.<\/p>\n A New Partnership to Fund Priority Research on COVID-19 Vaccination in BC<\/a>: In a new and unique partnership with Genome BC and the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research,\u00a0we\u2019re proud to announce that we\u2019re funding 9 new rapid-response vaccine research projects addressing COVID-19 vaccine research priorities and knowledge gaps in real-time.<\/p>\n Happy Campers: 3rd BC Stay-at-Home Campout Still a Hit!<\/a>: On May 1st, the Tarry family of Surrey, BC, held their third BC Stay-at-Home Campout fundraiser for the Foundation\u2019s Emergency Response Fund. Read more, including the total raised over the three campouts!<\/p>\n Cats Needed for COVID-19 and Cats Study<\/a>: Cats needed for BC Centre for Disease Control study! This study will help fill important information gaps on companion animals and COVID-19. Click below to learn more.<\/p>\n 2021 BC Stay-at-Home Campout<\/a>: The Tarry family from Surrey, BC is at it again and inviting everyone to participate in the BC Stay-at-Home Campout on May 1st. Click below to learn how to participate and support the Foundation\u2019s Emergency Response Fund.<\/p>\n Vaccine Hesitancy: Foe of Healthy Communities<\/a>: In this blog post, learn what drives vaccine hesitancy, how to beware of misinformation, how to strengthen vaccine confidence, and more.<\/p>\n BC COVID-19 SPEAK Survey, Round 2!<\/a>: We are excited to announce that we\u2019ve funded Round 2 of the BC COVID-19 SPEAK Survey! Read the four key areas the survey addresses to inform our public health experts how to best plan for adaptation and recovery in BC.<\/p>\n Uncovering SARS-CoV-2 Behind Bars: Understanding the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Correctional Settings<\/a>: In this guest blog post by Dr Sofia Bartlett, public health researcher at the BC Centre for Disease Control, learn about the COVID-19 research she conducted at BC correctional facilities.<\/p>\n Why We Must Continue to Follow Public Health Guidelines During the Vaccine Rollout<\/a>: As more and more British Columbians get vaccinated every day, it\u2019s important that we continue to follow public health orders. In this blog post, we share three big reasons why.<\/p>\n Dr Henry Whisky Sauce Creator Donates Net Proceeds to Emergency Response Fund<\/a>: \u201cUntil every British Columbian is vaccinated.\u201d Read about Chef Ann, creator of the Dr Henry Whisky Sauce, who is donating net profits to the Foundation\u2019s Emergency Response Fund.<\/p>\n Why We Need to Support Vaccine Effectiveness Research, Right Now<\/a>: As a public health foundation, it was our responsibility in early 2020 to rapidly pivot our work to support COVID-19 response, and to ensure that evidence-based information is being shared. It is now our duty to support the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out\u2014a critical part of our efforts to address the pandemic.<\/p>\n Introducing: BC COVID-19 SPEAK Survey Dashboard<\/a>: We are proud and excited to be able to introduce a new, interactive dashboard of the SPEAK survey results that puts the data in the hands of all British Columbians!<\/p>\n From Epidemic to Infodemic: COVID-19 and Misinformation in BC<\/a>: Check out this interview with the Principal Investigators for a BC Centre for Disease Control study that assess the equity of misinformation and communication on COVID-19 in BC\u2014how and where British Columbians are looking for and finding public health information.<\/p>\n Interventions for People Who Use Drugs are more than just COVID-19 Prevention<\/a>: In this guest blog post, brought to you by the harm reduction team at the BC Centre for Disease Control, learn what overdose response interventions have been put in place, including the vital role peers (people with lived\/living experience) play in keeping people alive.<\/p>\n Addressing the Infodemic: Everyone Must Play a Role in Stopping Mis- and Disinformation<\/a>: In the middle of a global pandemic, we\u2019re also in the middle of a global infodemic. In this blog post, we outline steps to stop the spread of mis- and disinformation.<\/p>\n COVID-19 may not be new, but it\u2019s time for a renewed commitment<\/a>: COVID-19 isn\u2019t new. But, it\u2019s time for a renewal. This is our call to action to make a commitment, to renew together our drive to prevent COVID-19 and to protect our loved ones.<\/p>\n Interview with Dr Jat Sandhu: BCCDC\u2019s COVID-19 Pandemic Response Research<\/a>: We spoke with Dr. Sandhu to learn more about the importance of his research (a three-phased approach that includes a population health survey, serological testing, and sentinel surveillance) and what it will mean for BC\u2019s population.<\/p>\n Testing COVID-19 in Wastewater: a tool to help track COVID-19 spread and mitigate second wave in BC<\/a>: BC Centre for Disease Control researchers have rapidly developed and validated a series of methods to test wastewater for SARS-CoV-2.<\/p>\n Pandemics: The Terminology<\/a>: When we\u2019re talking about pandemics, there\u2019s a lot of jargon. Here\u2019s some of the most common terms, explained.<\/p>\n Pandemics & How to Flatten the Curve<\/a>: Pandemics are serious, but there\u2019s simple things you can do to help stop the spread, and flatten the curve.<\/p>\n When Two Public Health Emergencies Collide<\/a>: BC is facing two concurrent public health emergencies: the overdose crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. How do we protect all British Columbians, especially vulnerable populations, in this context?<\/p>\n Decoding Public Health: Racism, Xenophobia, & Epidemics<\/a>: This epidemic may be new, but the racism and xenophobia that has come with it isn\u2019t.<\/p>\n