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Florida Department of Health to Hold Hearing on Proposed Vaccine Rule Changes Amid Declining Childhood Immunization Rates

Florida Department of Health to Hold Hearing on Proposed Vaccine Rule Changes Amid Declining Childhood Immunization Rates

The Florida Department of Health (DOH) has scheduled a public hearing for October 8, 2026, in Lake Mary, Florida, to discuss proposed revisions to Rule 64D-3.046, Florida Administrative Code. These revisions aim to eliminate state requirements for four specific vaccines—chickenpox (varicella), hepatitis B, pneumococcal conjugate, and haemophilus influenzae type b (hib)—for school and daycare entry. This initiative is part of Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo’s broader effort to promote 'medical freedom' and parental choice, which he has previously linked to ending vaccine mandates. The Florida chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FCAAP) strongly opposes these changes, warning that there is no scientific or medical justification for removing these requirements and that doing so would increase public health risks. Childhood vaccination rates in Florida have already seen a decline, with MMR vaccine coverage for kindergarteners at 88.8% for the 2024-2025 school year, falling below the national average of...
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Florida Authorities Intensify Mosquito Control Efforts Amidst Dengue Fever Surge

Florida Authorities Intensify Mosquito Control Efforts Amidst Dengue Fever Surge

Local authorities in Manatee and Sarasota Counties, Florida, are on high alert and have significantly ramped up mosquito control protocols due to a surge in Dengue Fever cases in surrounding counties, particularly Hillsborough County. While Manatee and Sarasota Counties have not reported local cases, health officials are coordinating with the Florida Department of Health and the Manatee County Mosquito Control District to prevent local transmission. Christopher Lesser, Director of the Manatee Co. Mosquito Control District, stated that helicopters are spraying urban areas of Bradenton and Palmetto every two weeks, covering approximately 30,000 acres per mission. This targeted spraying focuses on urban neighborhoods where the Aedes aegypti mosquito, also known as the yellow fever mosquito, thrives. This mosquito, originally from Africa, is a vector for not only dengue but also yellow fever, Zika, and chikungunya. Florida has recorded 485 dengue cases this year, with Hillsborough County showing the largest in...
Sarasota Herald-TribuneSarasota Herald-Tribune
Florida dengue cases hit record 252 as outbreak accelerates

Florida dengue cases hit record 252 as outbreak accelerates

Dengue cases continue climbing in Florida. See affected counties, symptoms and prevention tips.
AP NewsAP News
Florida's dengue outbreak is now the largest in the continental US in decades

Florida's dengue outbreak is now the largest in the continental US in decades

Florida is experiencing its largest dengue outbreak in decades, with over 250 locally acquired cases reported this year
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Tampa General Hospital Assumes Operational Control of DeSoto Memorial, Renaming it TGH DeSoto

Tampa General Hospital Assumes Operational Control of DeSoto Memorial, Renaming it TGH DeSoto

Tampa General Hospital (TGH) has officially taken operational control of DeSoto Memorial Hospital, renaming it TGH DeSoto. This transition occurred on Thursday, nearly a year after TGH agreed to a 49-year lease proposal that includes a $45 million investment. Vince Sica, formerly CEO, will now serve as president under TGH management and as a TGH senior vice president. The Arcadia hospital, which has been the primary medical facility in DeSoto County for over a century, faced financial challenges common to rural hospitals, such as rising operational costs, difficulties in recruiting staff, aging infrastructure, and a high proportion of Medicare and Medicaid patients. TGH's agreement aims to preserve local access to care and integrate DeSoto County patients into Tampa General's broader academic health system, which includes the University of South Florida. TGH DeSoto will continue to offer emergency, inpatient, surgical care, diagnostic imaging, rehabilitation, and behavioral health services. Additionally, T...
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Indiantown, Florida, Grapples with Persistent Flooding Despite Drainage Investments

Indiantown, Florida, Grapples with Persistent Flooding Despite Drainage Investments

Indiantown, Florida, continues to experience significant flooding, raising concerns among residents despite millions of dollars spent on drainage improvements in recent years. Large areas of the village, including Booker Park, Oak River, and the vicinity of Indian River Middle School, were affected by recent floodwaters. Residents, some of whom have lived in the area for nearly 60 years, acknowledge some improvements but believe more substantial action is needed. Indiantown Councilman Anthony Dowling stated that the village is collaborating with Martin County to address the issue and is considering a municipal bond to fund repairs for damaged pipes and clear debris from drainage systems. The problem is acknowledged as long-standing and complex, requiring ongoing efforts.
Florida Times-UnionFlorida Times-Union
7 Spirit Halloween stores are open in Jacksonville. Where are they?

7 Spirit Halloween stores are open in Jacksonville. Where are they?

Spirit Halloween is the largest Halloween retailer in North America, with over 1,575 temporary pop-up locations, including seven in Jacksonville.
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Nicklaus Children’s Health System Expands Pediatric Oncology Research and Precision Medicine Efforts

Nicklaus Children’s Health System Expands Pediatric Oncology Research and Precision Medicine Efforts

Nicklaus Children’s Health System is significantly expanding its research capabilities and precision medicine efforts in pediatric oncology. The Helen & Jacob Shaham Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute at Nicklaus Children’s received a $7.5 million appropriation from the State of Florida through the Cancer Connect Collaborative Research Incubator Fund in 2025. This investment aims to enhance clinical trial capabilities and strengthen the infrastructure to connect more Florida children with advanced treatment options. A major focus is the development of an early-phase pediatric oncology program to expand first-in-child and Phase I/II clinical trials, particularly crucial for children with relapsed, refractory, or rare cancers. The system is also integrating genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and microbiome research with drug-sensitivity testing to provide individualized understandings of both the child and the cancer, informing medication selection and dosing. This builds on research by Dr. Maggie Fader,...
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1.7 Million Floridians Face Food Insecurity Amid Rising Costs, Says Feeding South Florida

1.7 Million Floridians Face Food Insecurity Amid Rising Costs, Says Feeding South Florida

Approximately 1.7 million residents in South Florida, spanning from Tequesta to Key West, are struggling with food insecurity, according to Paco Vélez, president and CEO of Feeding South Florida. This widespread challenge is attributed to the increasing financial strain on families due to surging prices for essential goods and services, including fuel, transportation, healthcare, and groceries. A recent analysis by the Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality further indicates that 35% of Floridians are burdened by food costs. Hunger-relief organizations like Feeding South Florida are experiencing a significant increase in demand for their services, with their 5,000-square-foot Community Kitchen capable of producing up to 10,000 meals daily for various programs, including after-school initiatives, medically tailored meal services, and disaster response efforts. The organization operates across Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties through direct services and a network of over 350 nonprofi...
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Hillsborough County Faces Severe Dengue Outbreak, Receives Aid from Lee County

Hillsborough County Faces Severe Dengue Outbreak, Receives Aid from Lee County

Hillsborough County, Florida, is currently experiencing a significant dengue outbreak, with 170 locally acquired cases reported, accounting for nearly 90% of all such infections in Florida this year. In response to the escalating situation, Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties have each declared local states of emergency. This declaration allows them to access additional resources and mutual aid to combat the spread of the mosquito-borne virus. As part of this regional effort, three mosquito control helicopters from Lee County are scheduled to assist Hillsborough County's mosquito control operations, taking off from Tampa Executive Airport. These specialized aircraft and crews will conduct aerial treatment missions aimed at reducing the mosquito populations responsible for transmitting dengue. State surveillance data further indicates the severity of the outbreak, identifying 17 dengue-positive mosquito pools statewide, with 16 of these located in Hillsborough County and one in neighboring Pasco Coun...
Palm Beach PostPalm Beach Post
Post reader says Amendment 3 won't help first responders | Letters

Post reader says Amendment 3 won't help first responders | Letters

Palm Beach Post readers sound off on Florida's property tax amendment, Christian nationalism, the upcoming elections and the Hope Florida scandal.
Westchester County Journal NewsWestchester County Journal News
Amish ask Supreme Court to allow school vaccine religious exemptions

Amish ask Supreme Court to allow school vaccine religious exemptions

For the second time this month, a New York parent has sought U.S. Supreme Court intervention over the state's school vaccination rules.