Hello and Welcome!

This is the first of many newsletters from the Whatcom County Health Department Communicable Disease Program! Please let us know what topics you would be interested in for future releases.

Email: sexualhealth@whatcomcounty.us

Whatcom Youth Pride, June 4, 2022

Did you know that Bellingham’s 2019 all-youth Pride Parade and Festival was one of the first in the nation? Our community can thank school staff, parents, and neighbors who joined forces on the cusp of 2019 to rally around the LGBTQIA+ youth and form the Whatcom Youth Pride Coalition (WYPC). With over 1500 attendees, their inaugural event was a great success. After 2 years of alternative plans, due to COVID-19, the parade and festival are back on! The first Saturday in June, the community will once again stand along the city blocks, celebrating the LGBTQIA+ youth and youth allies of Whatcom County. The parade begins at 10:30 near Bellingham High School, followed up by the festival scheduled from 11:30 - 2:00 pm.

Creating safe spaces where LGBTQIA+ youth can affirm their sexual orientation and gender identity has shown to improve health outcomes. That is exactly what this event can and will do. For more information you can visit the event website:
https://www.whatcomyouthpride.com/event-info.

Spring Cleaning, not just for the home!

Spring clean and maintain your sexual health while the season is changing, newness is blooming and fresh starts await. Now is a great time to go get checked for STI's— make sure your provider checks your blood. A full STI panel includes checks for chlamydia, gonorrhea, syphilis and HIV. A urine panel or swab alone cannot check for syphilis or HIV. The CDC recommends that people who have sex get HIV testing and syphilis testing done annually when there is any potential risks of exposure. As any sexual act can bring an element of risk, we recommend checking for STI's at least once a year. If you have any question of where to go for testing, please call our public health nurses and we will guide you to where to go (see contact info below).

Check out this list of providers that offer STI testing: https://www.whatcomcounty.us/DocumentCenter/View/66010/List-of-Whatcom-County-Providers-That-Offer-Sexually-Transmitted-Infection-STI-Testing-41922

Sexual Health Coalition

The Whatcom County Health Department has relaunched our quarterly gathering with over 50 community partners and providers. We join seasonally to learn from each other on relevant and timely sexual health topics. If you are interested in learning more, or wish to join future meetings please call or email using the contact information at the end of this newsletter.

Free COVID-19 At-home Tests

Here are three ways individuals can get free tests, some sent directly to your home address:

1. Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order two sets of four free at-?home COVID-?19 tests. The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days. Order here: covidtests.gov or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489).

2. Washington state residents can order up to two sets of five free at-home tests per month. Tests are completely free. Orders will usually arrive within 1-2 weeks. The free test kits are available for a limited time, while supplies last. Order here: https://sayyescovidhometest.org or call 1-800-525-0127.

3. If you have health insurance, most insurers will now reimburse you for up to 8 at-?home tests per month, for each person on your plan.

Contact Information

Whatcom County Health Department,
1500 N State St., Ste 100, Bellingham, WA 98225

Email: sexualhealth@whatcomcounty.us

Communicable Disease Main Line: 360-778-6100

Not signed up? Sign up for our newsletter here under Newsflash > Health - Newsletter - Child Care Providers