Dr Paul Mendoza

08/16/2024

Time to dust this thing off again for public health info: COVID new vaccines will be available in Fall 2024, updated to account for new strains. The spring vaccine has stopped being offered in June 2024, but still available for special cases. In general, hold off on the older spring COVID shot and consider waiting if you can for the updated fall booster.

Everyone 6 months of age and older can get the COVID-19 vaccine. Find out how to register and what to expect when you get a COVID-19 vaccine.

01/30/2024

Starting today, there’s a new way to screen for cervical cancer that can be done wherever you feel safe and comfortable, such as in your home. Cervix self-screening is an alternative to the Pap for routine cervical cancer screening. Cervix self-screening uses HPV testing to look for HPV in your va**na. HPV testing does not need a sample from your cervix.

If you are eligible and due for screening, request a self-screening kit by phone (1-877-702-6566). You can also request a kit online. Follow the link below for more info:

Provincial Health Services Authority (PHSA) improves the health of British Columbians by seeking province-wide solutions to specialized health care needs in collaboration with BC health authorities and other partners.

01/10/2024

In the middle of winter, it's sometimes unavoidable to go to the emergency room. One tool that may help is the ER wait time tracker that gives estimations of wait times in different ERs across Metro Vancouver.

Displays the Emergency Department average wait times dashboard for hospitals within Vancouver, Richmond, and North Shore regions.

01/08/2024

Lung cancer screening is now available in BC for smokers and ex-smokers at risk.

Screening may be for you if you meet the following:

-Are 55 to 74 years of age;
-Have smoked commercial to***co for 20 years or more, either currently or in the past.

check out the link below and if are eligible, you can call the Lung Screening Program at 1-877-717-5864

Take a positive step for your health by getting screened for lung cancer. Screening is easy, effective and painless.

01/07/2024

It's one thing to measure your home BP, but it's really important to record it so our office and you can keep track of it. Sometimes "white-coat hypertension" causes BP to be always high in my office, but normal when you are at home.

To that end, you can record BPs on paper, but you probably can also record it on your phone, in the "notes" app. Apple iOS users can also use the Health app where you can enter numbers manually.

You can set up apps and accessories to send data to the Health app, enter data yourself, and change how Health prioritizes data from those sources.

01/02/2024

Happy New Year! Here's to a great 2024.

And sure enough, at the start of 2024, my website is down. We hope to get it online shortly, but if you wish to access online booking, you can go directly to the booking portal here:

12/27/2023

Lots of questions this year about RSV vaccines for seniors. If you are a senior should you get it ? TL:DR = You could get it privately if you are very worried now, but we should have official guidelines from Health Canada in 2024 with more clear recommendations for next winter.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is a major cause of lower respiratory illness, particularly among infants, young children and older adults. In Canada, RSV causes yearly outbreaks of respiratory tract disease, usually starting in late fall and running through to early spring.

A new vaccine for those 60 years old and older was approved in Canada in 2023. We currently lack recommendations for this new vaccine at present, but we should have more clear recommendations from Health Canada in 2024 for next winter.

10/13/2023

is making a return this fall, and it helps to be prepared:

1) get vaccinated! A new fall booster is now available. Expect a text/email for notification like last time, or check out the Ministry of Health's COVID website.

2) Have some test kits handy at home! You can get these free from most pharmacies in BC. If you do get COVID, for most people, stay home when you are actively sick (coughing, fever), but you can return to activity when you are feeling well

3) Are you a candidate for Paxlovid? If you are sick, and you do test positive, and you have certain medical conditions, you can treatment for COVID within *5 days* of getting sick, see link below:

Treatments are available for people at high risk from COVID-19.

10/03/2023

Provinces are moving away from Pap smears for screening, which is recommended at least once every three years for women aged 30 to 69. With a pap test, a doctor sweeps up cells in the cervix to spot lesions caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The abnormalities provide an early warning of changes that can become cancerous without treatment.

Instead of the Pap, a relatively new HPV test is being rolled in several provinces. The test detects high-risk types of the virus. Those aged 25 and 65 are offered it every five years, with slight variations from province to province. Self-swabs for HPV — similar to the at-home rapid tests for the virus that causes COVID-19 — could significantly boost early detection.

It is currently being piloted in BC, but expect a wider roll out in early 2024.

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/our-research/participate/cervical-screening

10/03/2023

On the radar: provinces are moving away from Pap smears for screening, which is recommended at least once every three years for women aged 30 to 69.

With a Pap test, a doctor sweeps up cells in the cervix to spot lesions caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). The abnormalities provide an early warning of changes that can become cancerous without treatment.

Instead of the Pap, a relatively new HPV test is being introduced in several provinces. The test detects high-risk types of the virus. Those aged 25 and 65 are offered it every five years, with slight variations from province to province. Self-swabs for HPV — similar to the at-home rapid tests for the virus that causes COVID-19 — could significantly boost early detection.

It is already being piloted in BC, but a wider roll-out is expected in early 2024.

Take-home kits to screen for cervical cancer virus should be offered to reduce disparity, family doctors say in new guidelines.

10/01/2023

On the radar, self-test kits for HPV may replace pap tests for cervical cancer screening. HPV swabs are similar to covid tests, where a simple self-done swab is used to look for HPV. This will greatly lower barriers for women to screen for HPV.

This is currently being piloted in BC, but expect a wider rollout in 2024.

Take-home kits to screen for cervical cancer virus should be offered to reduce disparity, family doctors say in new guidelines.

06/13/2023

On the radar: The City of Surrey is now on the Alertable notification network. These notifications allow the City to inform subscribed users of actions to take during large-scale emergencies.

Once signed up, you will receive notifications on your cellphone, home phone or email for:

-severe weather
-natural disasters
-industrial hazards
-other emergencies with the potential to impact many citizens.

Alerts may include information about evacuation orders, where to go for support during an emergency and additional information about potential threats to public safety. With increasing risk of extreme weather events and wildfire smoke every year, this is a useful resource.

Sign up to receive notifications in large scale emergencies on your preferable device.