It’s the dog days of summer in SWFL. This means that children, seniors and people who work in the elements can be subjected to temperatures that can lead to heat related health risks.

Wasting no time to start on his pledge last week to remove all vaccine mandates in Florida, Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo quickly removed four of them from school immunization requirements starting as soon as December. He can remove only those four unilaterally but pledged to push lawmakers to abolish “every last one of them.”The four vaccines soon to be stripped from those required for public and private school attendance fight Hepatitis B, Varicella (chickenpox), Haemophilus influenza type b (Hib), and a fourth one that fights Pneumococcal bacteria that causes pneumonia, meningitis and other bacterial infections, a Florida Department of Health representative confirmed on Sunday. All of those vaccines are recommended for school-age children by state and federal health authorities and medical associations.

We learn about a nationwide clinical trial, funded by the National Institute of Aging, that's trying to determine if high doses of a synthetic form of Vitamin B1 called benfotiamine might be an effective treatment for mild cognitive impairment or early Alzheimer's Disease. Also known as thiamine, Vitamin B1 is important for brain health, and it's known that people with Alzheimer's have a thiamine deficiency.

Plans announced by State Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo on Wednesday to end vaccine mandates in Florida, putting the state in the middle of a growing national debate, drew immediate concern and anger.Ladapo said the Florida Department of Health will eliminate rules set by his predecessors and request that the Legislature “get rid of the rest of it.” Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida will establish a “Make America Healthy Again” advisory committee overseen by First Lady Casey DeSantis and Lt. Gov. Jay Collins.

Florida will work to phase out all childhood vaccine mandates in the state, building on the effort by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis to curb vaccine requirements and other health mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic.DeSantis also announced on Wednesday the creation of a state-level “Make America Healthy Again” commission modeled after similar initiatives pushed at the federal level by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Charlotte County Fire and EMS first responders are now equipped with tools to help reduce stress for autistic and other neurodivergent patients.

People who suffer from chronic diseases have an opportunity to learn more about managing their conditions.

August 21 is Fentanyl Awareness and Education Day in DeSoto County, as the Florida Department of Health reminds residents about the dangers of the drug.

A new surgical center opened this month in Fort Myers.