BREAKING NEWS
Orlando doctor facing prison time is accused of illegally using liquid silicone for butt implants
Read full article: Orlando doctor facing prison time is accused of illegally using liquid silicone for butt implants54-year-old Nham Pham, Orlando doctor, was accused of receiving, proffering delivery, misbranding, and failing to register shipments of liquid silicone with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
Feds warn cannabis sellers to stop using packaging that looks like food popular with children
Read full article: Feds warn cannabis sellers to stop using packaging that looks like food popular with childrenThe FTC and FDA are calling out five sellers of edible cannabis products using packaging that imitates foods popular with kids.
Takeaways from Supreme Court ruling: Abortion pill still available but opponents say fight not over
Read full article: Takeaways from Supreme Court ruling: Abortion pill still available but opponents say fight not overThe Supreme Court unanimously upheld access to a drug used in the majority of U.S. abortions, though abortion opponents say the ruling won’t be the last word in the fight over mifepristone.
Building a ‘Barricaid’ for back pain
Read full article: Building a ‘Barricaid’ for back painNine hundred thousand people undergo back surgery each year. One of the main problems? Herniated or bulging discs. In fact, half a million people remove bulges that are pressing on nerves that are causing severe, debilitating pain.
Beating baby blues: World’s first pill for postpartum depression
Read full article: Beating baby blues: World’s first pill for postpartum depressionIt’s known as one of the happiest times in the life of a new parent: The birth of their baby. But that’s not the case for every person who just gave birth.
Supreme Court seems likely to preserve access to the abortion medication mifepristone
Read full article: Supreme Court seems likely to preserve access to the abortion medication mifepristoneThe Supreme Court seems likely to preserve access to a medication that was used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S. last year, in the court’s first abortion case since conservative justices overturned Roe v. Wade two years ago.
Congressional leaders come out with 6 spending bills in a drive to avoid a partial shutdown
Read full article: Congressional leaders come out with 6 spending bills in a drive to avoid a partial shutdownCongressional leaders have come out with a package of six bills setting full-year spending levels for some federal agencies.
FDA approved a drug to help people with food allergies. But it can cost thousands without insurance
Read full article: FDA approved a drug to help people with food allergies. But it can cost thousands without insuranceThe Food and Drug Administration has approved a drug to help people with food allergies in the event they are accidentally exposed.
Florida Surgeon General calls for end of COVID-19 vaccines based on mRNA
Read full article: Florida Surgeon General calls for end of COVID-19 vaccines based on mRNAFlorida Surgeon General Joseph Ladopo called for a halt to the use of COVID-19 vaccines based on mRNA and said the vaccines could result in an illness.
RSV, COVID, Flu: Avoiding the triple whammy this winter
Read full article: RSV, COVID, Flu: Avoiding the triple whammy this winterWinter is here and with the cooler weather come viruses, such as the flu, COVID, and RSV. Last year we experienced a rise in all three during December, January, and February.
Consumer Reports tests 10 OTC hearing aids so you know what to look for
Read full article: Consumer Reports tests 10 OTC hearing aids so you know what to look forNearly 1 in 6 adults has trouble hearing, but few people who could benefit from wearing a hearing aid actually use one. The good news: over-the-counter hearing aids are widely available and Consumer Reports’ tests found there are options that work well.
FTC warns food industry trade groups and influencers about disclosures on paid social media posts
Read full article: FTC warns food industry trade groups and influencers about disclosures on paid social media postsThe Federal Trade Commission says it issued warnings to two food and beverage industry groups, as well as to a dozen online influencers and dieticians for failing to adequately disclose paid social media posts that promoted a sweetener and sugary products.
Check your eye drops, certain products can cause an eye infection
Read full article: Check your eye drops, certain products can cause an eye infectionThe FDA issued warnings about 27 eye drop products that contain bacteria that could cause eye infections and potentially lead to vision loss or blindness.
Scary toxic Halloween hazards to watch out for
Read full article: Scary toxic Halloween hazards to watch out forHalloween is right around the corner, and with over 44 million children gearing up to transform into witches, wizards, pirates, and princesses, it's important for parents to be aware of some crucial safety measures. Here are some tips to ensure a safe and happy Halloween.
Health advocates say flavored cigars ‘prey upon young people.’ They want them banned.
Read full article: Health advocates say flavored cigars ‘prey upon young people.’ They want them banned.Health advocates are urging the FDA to finalize a rule that would prohibit flavored cigars as a new report raises concerns about cigar use among children, especially Black youth.
Health alert: Lifesaving RSV vaccine approved for seniors
Read full article: Health alert: Lifesaving RSV vaccine approved for seniorsFor the first time, after decades of testing and tweaking, researchers have developed – and the FDA has approved – a RSV vaccine for this sometimes-deadly virus. Is it safe, and who should get it?
AI drug discoveries to cut costs and save lives: Medicine’s next big thing?
Read full article: AI drug discoveries to cut costs and save lives: Medicine’s next big thing?Artificial Intelligence, might help to weed out the good from the bad, the drugs that will work and the one’s that won’t, making the time a drug takes to get approval quicker than ever before.
FDA to make a decision on whether to approve first Alzheimer’s drug
Read full article: FDA to make a decision on whether to approve first Alzheimer’s drugThe FDA is set to decide whether it will fully approve the first Alzheimer’s drug to show it could slow the disease’s progression in certain patients. But the decision could also have other implications, including who would get access to it.
FDA, FTC tell sellers of edible Delta 8 to stop marketing products to young children
Read full article: FDA, FTC tell sellers of edible Delta 8 to stop marketing products to young childrenThe FTC and FDA are sending cease and desist letters to sellers of edible Delta 8 products and telling them to stop marketing products that may entice young children.
‘Game changer for patients’: News4JAX receives exclusive look at treatment that delays brain cancer regrowth
Read full article: ‘Game changer for patients’: News4JAX receives exclusive look at treatment that delays brain cancer regrowthGammaTile Therapy is an FDA-approved procedure that won’t save you from brain cancer, but experts say it will buy you more time and improve your quality of life while you deal with the brain cancer.
Study finds most ‘natural’ skin care products contain allergens
Read full article: Study finds most ‘natural’ skin care products contain allergensThere are all kinds of skin care products available these days -- with some focusing on being "natural." And while you may think those are better for your skin, a study found they often contain allergens.
Kamala Harris rallies as high court eyes abortion pill rules
Read full article: Kamala Harris rallies as high court eyes abortion pill rulesVice President Kamala Harris is urging Americans to take action during “a critical point in our nation’s history” as thousands of people protested new limits to abortion rights in demonstrations across the country.
Missouri to restrict transgender care for minors, adults
Read full article: Missouri to restrict transgender care for minors, adultsMissouri’s attorney general announced new restrictions Thursday on transgender care for adults in addition to minors in a move that is believed to be a first nationally and has advocacy groups threatening to sue.
DeSantis flexes executive powers while eyeing White House
Read full article: DeSantis flexes executive powers while eyeing White HouseFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis has advanced elements of his aggressive conservative agenda though the use of executive power, drawing on appointees, state boards and the state Constitution as he builds toward an expected presidential candidacy.
Are your favorite fruits, veggies on the ‘dirty dozen’ list? Here’s how to be safe while eating them.
Read full article: Are your favorite fruits, veggies on the ‘dirty dozen’ list? Here’s how to be safe while eating them.The 2023 Shopper's Guide to Pesticides in Produce is out and strawberries and spinach own the top two slots on the so-called "dirty dozen."
Panel backs moving opioid antidote Narcan over the counter
Read full article: Panel backs moving opioid antidote Narcan over the counterThe Nonprescription Drugs Advisory Committee (NDAC) and the Anesthetic and Analgesic Drug Products Advisory Committee (AADPAC) is discussing supplemental new drug application 208411/S–006, for NARCAN (naloxone hydrochloride) nasal spray, submitted by Emergent BioSolutions Inc.
How to keep you & your family safe as recalls skyrocket
Read full article: How to keep you & your family safe as recalls skyrocketFrom dodgy designs to dangerous ingredients, experts agree there are more recalls. They also agree that’s because we are getting better at catching problems before they become fatal.
A panel of experts answer questions about the COVID-19 booster shot during an FDA meeting
Read full article: A panel of experts answer questions about the COVID-19 booster shot during an FDA meetingHow often should Americans get their booster shot against COVID-19, and how important is the booster to you if you’ve already been infected with COVID-19? Those are questions a panel of experts set out to answer during an FDA meeting, the information will be passed on to the CDC.
Federal agencies helping Florida investigate listeria outbreak linked to ice cream
Read full article: Federal agencies helping Florida investigate listeria outbreak linked to ice creamThe Food and Drug Administration, along with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is helping the Florida Department of Health and Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services investigate a listeria outbreak linked to ice cream, the FDA said Tuesday.
What’s the difference between the Novavax vaccine and others? A doctor breaks it down
Read full article: What’s the difference between the Novavax vaccine and others? A doctor breaks it downNow that an FDA advisory committee has recommended the Novavax COVID-19 vaccination for emergency use, experts say we could possibly see the FDA give full approval of the vaccine soon.
Hepatitis A outbreak linked to organic strawberries sold at grocery stores across nation
Read full article: Hepatitis A outbreak linked to organic strawberries sold at grocery stores across nationThe FDA is warning about an outbreak of Hepatitis A linked to strawberries sold in major grocery stores across the country last month.
Florida DOH monitoring ‘life-threatening’ formula shortage affecting families nationwide
Read full article: Florida DOH monitoring ‘life-threatening’ formula shortage affecting families nationwideThe local departments of health around Northeast Florida sent notices Friday saying they are monitoring the infant formula shortage, which they called a “life-threatening issue.”
Epidemiologist weighs in on FDA’s approval of COVID-19 booster shot for children ages 5 to 11
Read full article: Epidemiologist weighs in on FDA’s approval of COVID-19 booster shot for children ages 5 to 11The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday approved children ages 5 to 11 to get a booster dose of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.
New website launched to help parents find baby formula amid nationwide shortage
Read full article: New website launched to help parents find baby formula amid nationwide shortageThe U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has launched a new website to help parents find baby formula amid a nationwide shortage. Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected to make an announcement on infant formula imports amid the shortage that has sent parents scrambling to keep their babies fed, the federal agency said Friday.
‘It’s absolutely heartbreaking’: Jacksonville-area parents face worsening baby formula shortage
Read full article: ‘It’s absolutely heartbreaking’: Jacksonville-area parents face worsening baby formula shortageJacksonville woman says the baby formula her five-month-old son needs has vanished from store shelves.
What you need to know about the FDA authorizing another Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 booster for 50+
Read full article: What you need to know about the FDA authorizing another Pfizer, Moderna COVID-19 booster for 50+The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday authorized another COVID-19 booster for people age 50 and older.
Local doctor says antibodies should be effective against new omicron variant
Read full article: Local doctor says antibodies should be effective against new omicron variantDoctors say the subvariant of Omicron, BA.2, accounts for about a quarter of the cases reported, adding that it’s more transmissible, but not as severe.
Local expert says data back FDA decision to halt monoclonal treatments
Read full article: Local expert says data back FDA decision to halt monoclonal treatmentsThe FDA's move to revoke authorization was not unexpected because the drugmakers said the infusion drugs are less able to target omicron because of its mutations. Omicron now accounts for nearly all U.S. infections.
FDA expands Pfizer COVID-19 boosters for US children as young as 12
Read full article: FDA expands Pfizer COVID-19 boosters for US children as young as 12The U.S. is expanding COVID-19 boosters as it confronts the omicron surge, with the Food and Drug Administration allowing extra Pfizer shots for children as young as 12.
News headlines of 2021: How much do you remember? Take this quiz to find out.
Read full article: News headlines of 2021: How much do you remember? Take this quiz to find out.We might not be able to claim that 2021 was *the* wildest year in recent history (2020 will likely get that credit for quite some time), but it might be a close second.
FDA approves Pfizer vaccine for ages 5-11, local pharmacies and health centers ready
Read full article: FDA approves Pfizer vaccine for ages 5-11, local pharmacies and health centers ready28 million eligible children are one step closer to being able to get a COVID-19 vaccine. The FDA has approved Pfizer's vaccine for kids 5-11.
FDA panel to discuss booster shots of J&J, Moderna vaccines
Read full article: FDA panel to discuss booster shots of J&J, Moderna vaccinesCOVID-19 cases and hospitalizations are declining, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Wednesday that those numbers should go down over the next four weeks if vaccination rates continue at the pace they are right now.
Jacksonville doctor says benefits of Merck’s COVID pill would include convenience, cost
Read full article: Jacksonville doctor says benefits of Merck’s COVID pill would include convenience, costDrugmaker Merck on Monday requested emergency use authorization for its antiviral pill against COVID-Drugmaker Merck asked U.S. regulators Monday to authorize its pill for treating COVID-19 in what would add an entirely new and easy-to-use weapon to the world’s arsenal against the pandemic.
SMILE: An alternative to Lasik
Read full article: SMILE: An alternative to LasikAround 10 million Americans have had Lasik surgery to correct their vision since it was FDA approved 20 years ago. Now a lesser-known vision correction procedure is offering a smaller incision and quicker recovery. Ivanhoe has details on why doctors are considering this Lasik 2.0.
Pfizer gives COVID vaccine data from children ages 5-11 to FDA
Read full article: Pfizer gives COVID vaccine data from children ages 5-11 to FDAPfizer has submitted its clinical trial data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on the effectiveness of its COVID-19 vaccine in children ages 5 to 11 as it moves closer to seeking approval for expanded use of the shots.
Georgia waiting for CDC recommendations before releasing COVID-19 booster plan
Read full article: Georgia waiting for CDC recommendations before releasing COVID-19 booster planThe Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) said Tuesday it will wait on recommendations from the CDC and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) before releasing a plan to administer booster doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine in Georgia.
Full FDA approval of Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine coming soon: reports
Read full article: Full FDA approval of Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine coming soon: reportsThe Food and Drug Administration will grant full approval to Pfizer-BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine in the coming days, according to multiple reports.
Breaking down the differences between coronavirus vaccines
Read full article: Breaking down the differences between coronavirus vaccinesWhile the FDA and CDC have put a pause on the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, for now, the medical community still recommends people get the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine to protect against the coronavirus in the meantime.
Federal, state sites halt giving J&J vaccine after FDA calls for ‘immediate pause’
Read full article: Federal, state sites halt giving J&J vaccine after FDA calls for ‘immediate pause’Gateway Mall and other vaccination sites run by the federal government in Jacksonville discontinued giving Johnson & Johnson coronavirus vaccines after a joint call from the CDC and FDA. State-run sites and private pharmacies have also suspended giving J&J doses but continue with the two-shot vaccines.
FDA, CDC call for pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccine after clotting
Read full article: FDA, CDC call for pause on Johnson & Johnson vaccine after clottingFederal health agencies on Tuesday called for an immediate pause in use of Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccine after 6 people in the United States developed a rare disorder involving blood clots within about two weeks of vaccination, officials said.
Don’t be choosy about COVID-19 vaccines, health expert says
Read full article: Don’t be choosy about COVID-19 vaccines, health expert saysThere are now three COVID-19 vaccines approved for emergency use by the FDA. And absolutely don’t wait for any specific vaccine. Esper said vaccine supply is still scarce, so if you’re eligible and find availability -- don’t wait. They all bring us one step closer to herd immunity and normalcy. When you can get vaccinated, get vaccinated.”Esper said while the trio of COVID-19 vaccines have been deemed safe and effective, they’re still undergoing testing.
Doctors urge fully vaccinated people to continue practicing COVID-19 safety measures
Read full article: Doctors urge fully vaccinated people to continue practicing COVID-19 safety measuresThose are the questions doctors say they’re getting most often as more people are getting COVID-19 shots. Those questions were also raised over the weekend when the former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb said that more and more evidence indicates the COVID-19 vaccine is also preventing transmission of infection. The statement could send a mixed message to some people that they don’t still need to practice COVID-19 safety measures if they’re vaccinated. “Keep in mind that those clinical trials were not designed to test if the virus is transmissible,” he said. “It was designed to test if you’re getting COVID-19 clinically.”As this is debated, most public health experts have said fully vaccinated persons should continue to wear masks, employ social distancing and continue practicing other public health measures because there had been no evidence the vaccine would prevent transmission as well as infection.
19 more COVID-19 deaths reported in Northeast Florida
Read full article: 19 more COVID-19 deaths reported in Northeast FloridaThe Florida Department of Health reported Saturday an additional 118 deaths of residents or visitors to the state, bringing the total to 29,179, although many of those deaths occurred days or weeks earlier. According to the state, 32 of the additional deaths were in long-term care facilities, which have reported more than 10,000 deaths since the pandemic began -- more than one-third of Florida’s total. AdSaturday’s report comes a day after the first case of the U.K. COVID variant was reported in Jacksonville, according to the Duval County Health Department. Florida and Duval County COVID-19 cases per dayThere were 4,681 people in Florida hospitalized on Saturday afternoon with a primary diagnosis of COVID-19. There have now been 2,293,883 people vaccinated in Florida so far and 1,028,315 -- 4.78% of the state’s population -- have now received both shots.
20 days later, Jacksonville seniors still waiting on call for second dose appointment
Read full article: 20 days later, Jacksonville seniors still waiting on call for second dose appointmentBaldwin, 67, was instructed that she would receive a call from the state to set up her second vaccine appointment. If they missed their 21-day, or for the Moderna on the 28-day appointment, they were tracked up to 42 days later to receive it.”“If you miss 42 days, that’s probably okay too. Officials did not answer whether they were unable to administer second doses at the same rate as first doses. “We are prepared to provide a second dose for every person who received a first dose at Regency. “I will follow up with it, but bottom line we have said when the second doses come in, fill your appointments.
Consumer Alert: Parents, check your pantry for this baby food!
Read full article: Consumer Alert: Parents, check your pantry for this baby food!JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A government investigation revealed several major brands of baby food products contained arsenic and lead. There are in fact no ‘normal’ levels so any exposure to any levels of these heavy metals will have a significant impact,” Goldhagen said. “The FDA has to take more action to reduce the heavy metals in baby food,” said Consumer Reports Senior Scientist Michael Hansen. Hansen has spent years advocating for more regulation for baby food. He added that parents searching for peace of mind, should make their own baby food, so they know what their child is eating.
Pet food recalled after more than 2 dozen dogs died, FDA says
Read full article: Pet food recalled after more than 2 dozen dogs died, FDA saysA pet food is being taken off shelves after at least 28 dogs died, the FDA announced. The FDA says toxic levels of mold were found in the corn and grains inside some Sportmix pet products. The pet food can cause aflatoxin poisoning with symptoms like sluggishness, loss of appetite, vomiting, jaundice and diarrhea, and in severe cases, it can be fatal. In some cases, dogs and cats can suffer liver damage but not show any symptoms. For now, pet owners should stop using this food and consult their veterinarian immediately.
FDA says some aren’t recommended to take COVID-19 vaccine
Read full article: FDA says some aren’t recommended to take COVID-19 vaccineNurse Melissa Valentin shows a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to be applied to medical personnel at the Ashford Presbyterian Community Hospital in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. (AP Photo / Carlos Giusti)JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – When the FDA approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine, the medical community agreed it would help more people than not. However, the vaccine is not recommended for everyone just yet. She said it’s just that right now there’s no data because no one who falls into these categories were included in the vaccine trials. It’s important to note that it could be months before a vaccine becomes available for widespread public use, and we’re going to learn more about the vaccines by then.
'Healing is coming': US health workers start getting vaccine
Read full article: 'Healing is coming': US health workers start getting vaccine“I feel like healing is coming.”With a countdown of “3-2-1,” workers at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center gave initial injections to applause. High-risk health care workers were first in line. It just represents a moral failing,” said Jennifer Nuzzo, a public health researcher at Johns Hopkins. And later this week, the FDA will decide whether to greenlight the world’s second rigorously studied COVID-19 vaccine, made by Moderna Inc. “We’re also in the middle of a surge, and it’s the holidays, and our health care workers have been working at an extraordinary pace,” said Sue Mashni, chief pharmacy officer at Mount Sinai Health System in New York City.
Florida expecting to get about 120,000 COVID-19 vaccines in coming days
Read full article: Florida expecting to get about 120,000 COVID-19 vaccines in coming daysJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Florida is expecting to get around 120,000 doses of the vaccine as part of the first phase of distribution. The priority for health officials are hospitals and long-term care facilities. It’s likely the first doses of an approved COVID-19 vaccine will be sent out within 48 hours. Partnering with the Division of Emergency Management and the Florida National Guard, the department said it will form “strike teams” to get those doses to where they’re badly needed at long-term care facilities. With 19,500 going to each hospital facility, UF Health in Jacksonville is one of them.
Jacksonville hospital says some requesting COVID-19 vaccine before its arrival
Read full article: Jacksonville hospital says some requesting COVID-19 vaccine before its arrivalJACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Health care workers have a big message to the public: Do not come to the hospital right now and ask for the COVID-19 vaccine. That’s already happened at UF Health Jacksonville ahead of the vaccine’s rollout. In the end, it comes down to the FDA approving it and the states deciding who gets it first.”What do we know about Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine? Pfizer’s study does not end if the FDA gives it an emergency use authorization. We are going to learn more about the vaccine and the other vaccines in the pipeline, but it’s the job of the FDA to decide if the benefit outweighs the risk.
Learning more about Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine
Read full article: Learning more about Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccineDr. Mobeen Rathore, Professor and Chief of Infectious Disease at UF Health Jacksonville, attended the virtual meeting yesterday when an advisory committee voted to recommend the FDA approve Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use. It is going to be awhile before we know if this vaccine is safe and the effect for children,” said Dr. Rathore. “I think right now the vaccine is not going to be recommended for pregnant women because the studies were not conducted for pregnant women. If you get the vaccine, Dr. Rathore said that does not mean you should stop wearing a mask or stop socially distancing. Dr. Rathore said while the first dose does provide some protection, it is important that recipients receive both doses to be fully protected.
COVID-19 vaccine: UPS, FedEx ready to deliver
Read full article: COVID-19 vaccine: UPS, FedEx ready to deliverJust like your holiday packages, the COVID-19 vaccine will be sent by air and truck after it’s approved by the FDA. As part of Operation Warp Speed, the military has arranged for two carriers to deliver the doses around the country: FedEx will cover the western part of the United States and UPS will take the eastern half. A local doctor involved in one of the clinical trials being conducted in Jacksonville explained how the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines work. Dr. Michael Koren said it’s important to understand that the vaccine does not inject any live virus into the body. Koren said participants in the clinical trials he is overseeing have experienced a range of reactions to the vaccine, including low-grade fever, headaches and muscle aches.