The 2026 Student Lyme Disease Prevention Art Competition is now open. Students in grades one through six across the Commonwealth are invited to submit a poster or short video around the theme “Protect. Check. Remove.”, and a winner will be chosen from each category.

The deadline for submissions is 11:59 PM on March 13, 2026, and more information can be found on the Department of Health’s website.     

Earlier this month, Department of Health Secretary Dr. Debra Bogen visited EMS West Regional Council in Allegheny County for a demonstration of the video guided laryngoscope being funded through additional EMSOF 2025-2026 funds. They also discussed Governor Josh Shapiro’s 2026-2027 proposed budget that includes spending $6.6 million more of the EMS Operating Fund (EMSOF) to purchase medical equipment and help build the EMS workforce of tomorrow.

EMS West Regional Council leaders demonstrated the use of video laryngoscopes it recently purchased to distribute to EMS agencies within its 11-county region. The devices will help reduce the chances of airway trauma in patients.

The Departments of Health and Education announced that $3 million allocated in the 2025/26 budget will be distributed to more than 750 Pennsylvania school districts, intermediate units, career and technical centers, and brick-and-mortar charter schools to continue providing free period products for their students.  

Building on historic, first-time investments of $3 million over each of the past two years, Governor Shapiro’s budget proposal for 2026/27 includes another $3 million to help schools provide free period products for students.

The funding enables schools to provide students with access to period products at no cost, in line with efforts to improve health equity.

The Department of Health is continuing to work with physicians across the Commonwealth to create a series of short social media videos on Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube to provide health care providers’ perspectives on the value of vaccines that are available to prevent diseases.

The Shapiro Administration remains committed to standing with medical experts, to trust science, and to support evidence-based vaccine guidance. The Administration continues to recommend following the vaccine schedule for children developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics to protect Pennsylvania’s children from vaccine-preventable diseases.

For more information on vaccinations in Pennsylvania, visit www.pa.gov/vaccines.

As part of the State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) goal team 3.2 partners across Pennsylvania examine emerging threats to mental health and wellbeing. March is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, and one growing concern is the rapid expansion of gambling—particularly online sports betting and casino platforms—and its impact on the mental health of Pennsylvanians.

Gambling disorder is a recognized behavioral addiction, sharing neurobiological pathways with substance use disorders and strongly associated with depression, anxiety, suicidality, financial instability, and family stress. With gambling now available 24/7 on mobile devices and marketed across media and sports, clinicians are seeing increased harm—often before individuals ever present for treatment. Pennsylvania data show that gambling participation and risk are rising statewide, with disproportionate impacts on youth, individuals with existing mental health conditions, and economically vulnerable communities. Yet low numbers of people affected by gambling disorder ever access treatment, underscoring the importance of prevention focused, systems level approaches.

The SHIP goal team 3.2 includees partners at the Pennsylvania’s Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs which operates a Compulsive and Problem Gambling Treatment program providing resources. Additionally, Pennsylvania’s Gaming Control Board offers self-exclusion programs to help individuals affected by problem gambling distance themselves from the temptation of gambling.

2024 SHIP Annual Report

The 2024 SHIP Annual Report is published and available online. This annual report provides an outline of the diverse initiatives underway by our SHIP partners and serves as a compilation of the work conducted by many different organizations in 2024 to reach shared goals. Information includes activities reported by SHIP goal team members and highlights their successes and progress. 

Throughout the year, the Department of Health publishes reports and dashboards on a variety of public health topics.

Learn more about:

March Health Awareness Events

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Pennsylvania Department of Health | 1-877-PA-Health | health.pa.gov

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