Nanaimo Public Health

09/02/2025

Vancouver Coastal Health is notifying people who dined at Sea Monkey Coffee — located onsite at Sunday Cider in Gibsons (1632 Sunshine Coast Hwy.) — about a possible exposure to hepatitis A from Aug. 1 to 25 inclusive.

Note: this notification is only for people who dined at Sea Monkey Coffee on the noted dates. It is not intended for customers of any other business at the address, including Sunday Cider, or for people who dined at Sea Monkey Coffee outside these dates. People who consumed only drinks from this venue are also not at risk of exposure.

Symptoms of hepatitis A include:

• Feeling very tired
• Feeling sick to your stomach and not feeling hungry
• Losing weight without trying
• Pain on the right side of the belly, under the rib cage (where your liver is)
• Fever
• Sore muscles
• Yellow skin and eyes (jaundice), dark urine, and clay-coloured stools

Getting immunized with one dose of hepatitis A vaccine can help to prevent infection if given within two weeks of exposure. Therefore, VCH recommends anyone who dined at Sea Monkey Coffee from Aug. 14 to 25 receive a hepatitis A vaccine as soon as possible.

A free dose of hepatitis A vaccine is available for those who are eligible at clinics and pharmacies throughout the VCH region.

A current list of locations — as well as information about causes, tests, treatments and prevention — can be found at https://www.vch.ca/en/health-topics/hepatitis-a.

08/29/2025

Back-to-school ready? Make sure your child’s vaccines are, too.

Take a few minutes to:

- Review the recommended vaccines for their age
- Check their immunization records
- Book any needed vaccines through a public health unit, doctor, or pharmacist

A simple step today helps protect your child and their classmates.

Check vaccines before school starts: islandhealth.ca/immunizations

08/29/2025

Picky eating can be tough to navigate. Sign up for an online session with a Registered Dietician through the QR code below!

08/28/2025

Happy fall! Here is our September Healthy Beginnings schedule. Looking forward to seeing you!

08/22/2025

Island Health is hosting open houses for the new long-term care home in Lantzville:

- September 3rd, 3-5 p.m.
- September 5th, 9-11 a.m.
- September 6th, 1-3 p.m.

All open houses are held at Costin Hall at 7232 Lantzville Road. Learn more and share your ideas for the future of long-term care in your community.

08/13/2025

Going home after a wildfire? Make sure it’s safe first.

Your home may be affected by smoke, ash, fire retardants, or water damage. Before re-entering, protect yourself and your family:

- Wait until local authorities say it’s safe
- Wear an N95 mask, gloves and boots
- Watch for structural damage and unsafe air
- Throw out spoiled or fire-exposed food
- Use caution when cleaning smoke, soot and debris
- Check drinking water & septic systems

Learn more at https://ow.ly/cunP50WBL5G

08/13/2025

Want to upskill your parenting? Struggling with behaviours at home? These in-person, no-cost, positive parenting seminars are available to all parents and guardians in the community 🤩 More questions? Want to sign up? The phone number to book is in the photo under "Contact Name & Number"!

More details:
Seminars: Provides an overview of positive parenting basics for anyone interested. Parents learn how to use positive parenting to encourage children to develop the skills they need for well being. Can be taken as a series or as a one of. Anyone can attend, no restrictions.

Group: An 8 week course for parents/caregivers of children 2-12 years old. This course helps families deal with almost any situation that might come up, in ways that are best suited to their own family. Learn why children behave as they do and 17 strategies to support the values, skills and behaviours you want to encourage. Must have unsupervised access to child 18 months+ to 12 years.

08/06/2025

08/06/2025

No matter where you live in B.C., it’s important to have grab-and-go bags in your home, workplace and vehicle ✔️

A grab-and-go bag is a smaller version of an emergency kit that's easy to take with you if you need to evacuate quickly due to emergencies such as tsunamis, wildfires, floods or landslides.

Get started with the following list:

• Food and water
• Battery-powered radio and flashlight
• First-aid kit
• Personal toiletries and medications
• Copy of your emergency plan and important documents
• Cash in small bills
• Seasonal clothing and an emergency blanket

Make sure to pack a grab-and-go bag for each person in your household, including pets, and customize each one to meet their unique needs ✔️

Learn more at PreparedBC.ca/grab-and-go

08/06/2025

08/05/2025

07/29/2025

Hello! Here is the August Healthy Beginnings schedule! See you there!