Chilly first day of winter with plenty of sunshine overheadKitten recovering after surviving horrific abuse
Chilly first day of winter with plenty of sunshine overhead The Weather Authority says Saturday is the first day of the winter solstice, and it feels like it across Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Kitten recovering after surviving horrific abuse At 12 pounds and 12 weeks old, this little kitty was snatched from her home and literally dragged through the unthinkable.
Losing loved ones in the line of duty; Community offers support to Diaz family Heartbreak over Sergeant Elio Diaz’s death consumed the Charlotte County community, after the fallen hero was laid to rest Friday.
CAPTIVA Impacts of hurricane season on fishing in SWFL Whipping winds and torrential downpours are all too common with hurricanes.
CAPE CORAL What to know before gifting pets this holiday season Gifting someone a pet for Christmas may sound like a good idea but not always. Animal experts remind us that owning an animal takes a big commitment.
Top rated prospects shine in City of Palms Classic In the third week of December, all eyes on college basketball recruiting are on the City of Palms Classic. Year after year, some of the top high school teams, featuring many of the top players in the country, compete in the Fort Myers Tournament. This year is no different. Take Long Island Lutheran versus Owasso, […]
NAPLES ‘Beverly’s Angels’ prepare holiday sacks for kids in need Beverly’s Angels in Naples is providing kids the essentials they need during the holiday season, and they got some help from high school students across Southwest Florida.
‘He was a phenomenal human being’: Woman says Elio Diaz inspired her to turn life around WINK News has shared stories about people greatly impacted by Deputy Sergeant Elio Diaz’s work. Now we hear from a woman whose life he affected for the better.
PUNTA GORDA ShorePoint Health in Punta Gorda to permanently close If people in Punta Gorda consider themselves patients of ShorePoint Hospital, they will have to look for an alternate place of healthcare.
LEHIGH ACRES Lehigh Acres Fire and Rescue District gives holiday candle safety tips Holiday celebrations are a few days away, and nothing sets the mood better than candles. This warning is best given before the holidays.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers closes on first house through affordable home program Through its Affordable Home Construction Program, the city closed a contract for the first single-family home.
SANIBEL Homeowners share unique ways to fortify homes after storms Roof, walls and floors. There’s so much to think about when you’re rebuilding.
DeSoto teen found guilty for murder at fair A teenager has been convicted in a deadly shooting that occurred at the DeSoto County Fair.
Residents gather at procession to pay tribute to Sgt. Elio Diaz WINK News spent the day along the procession route for Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz talking with people who wanted to let us know what Diaz meant to them.
BABCOCK RANCH Emotional memorial for fallen Charlotte County sergeant Family, friends, brothers and sisters in blue and even complete strangers gave Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz the sendoff he deserved.
Chilly first day of winter with plenty of sunshine overhead The Weather Authority says Saturday is the first day of the winter solstice, and it feels like it across Southwest Florida.
FORT MYERS Kitten recovering after surviving horrific abuse At 12 pounds and 12 weeks old, this little kitty was snatched from her home and literally dragged through the unthinkable.
Losing loved ones in the line of duty; Community offers support to Diaz family Heartbreak over Sergeant Elio Diaz’s death consumed the Charlotte County community, after the fallen hero was laid to rest Friday.
CAPTIVA Impacts of hurricane season on fishing in SWFL Whipping winds and torrential downpours are all too common with hurricanes.
CAPE CORAL What to know before gifting pets this holiday season Gifting someone a pet for Christmas may sound like a good idea but not always. Animal experts remind us that owning an animal takes a big commitment.
Top rated prospects shine in City of Palms Classic In the third week of December, all eyes on college basketball recruiting are on the City of Palms Classic. Year after year, some of the top high school teams, featuring many of the top players in the country, compete in the Fort Myers Tournament. This year is no different. Take Long Island Lutheran versus Owasso, […]
NAPLES ‘Beverly’s Angels’ prepare holiday sacks for kids in need Beverly’s Angels in Naples is providing kids the essentials they need during the holiday season, and they got some help from high school students across Southwest Florida.
‘He was a phenomenal human being’: Woman says Elio Diaz inspired her to turn life around WINK News has shared stories about people greatly impacted by Deputy Sergeant Elio Diaz’s work. Now we hear from a woman whose life he affected for the better.
PUNTA GORDA ShorePoint Health in Punta Gorda to permanently close If people in Punta Gorda consider themselves patients of ShorePoint Hospital, they will have to look for an alternate place of healthcare.
LEHIGH ACRES Lehigh Acres Fire and Rescue District gives holiday candle safety tips Holiday celebrations are a few days away, and nothing sets the mood better than candles. This warning is best given before the holidays.
FORT MYERS Fort Myers closes on first house through affordable home program Through its Affordable Home Construction Program, the city closed a contract for the first single-family home.
SANIBEL Homeowners share unique ways to fortify homes after storms Roof, walls and floors. There’s so much to think about when you’re rebuilding.
DeSoto teen found guilty for murder at fair A teenager has been convicted in a deadly shooting that occurred at the DeSoto County Fair.
Residents gather at procession to pay tribute to Sgt. Elio Diaz WINK News spent the day along the procession route for Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz talking with people who wanted to let us know what Diaz meant to them.
BABCOCK RANCH Emotional memorial for fallen Charlotte County sergeant Family, friends, brothers and sisters in blue and even complete strangers gave Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sgt. Elio Diaz the sendoff he deserved.
The vaccine rollout effort has disrupted the medicine supply chain. Pharmaceutical giant Pfizer is now reporting shortages of birth control after the company reorganized its priorities to producing COVID-19 shots. For more than 40 years, Cypress Pharmacy has helped people get the medical care they need, but this year, it’s harder. “There’s been instances where there’s been no product available. Meds that people have been on for 20 years – there’s just nobody to produce it,” said T.J. DePaola, pharmacist in charge at Cypress Pharmacy. He said the pandemic has led to all kinds of medication shortages [list]. “The one that hit first was a lot of the injectables. A lot of the doctor’s offices were having trouble getting injectable lidocaine, which they use before the procedures.” The latest on the list: Pfizer’s Depo-Provera. The company shifted production of the birth control shot to the coronavirus vaccine. “They have to prioritize, and they have to sacrifice one thing to be able to make room for another,” said Dr. Tinglong Dai, a professor at Johns Hopkins University Carey Business School. “Pfizer has to basically reduce the capacity reserved for other drugs.” Dai said that’s because of the federal government’s Defense Production Act. “The Biden Administration wants to prioritize vaccine production, so they invoke the Defense Production Act. So now, these production facilities, they have to prioritize vaccine manufacturing. And so they, so they actually need to delay the production for other drugs.” Dai believes the production delay is temporary, but there’s a way the federal government can prepare for the next health care crisis without forcing manufacturers and patients to make any sacrifices. “Although we have a lot of production facilities, the capacity overall is very tight,” Dai said. “The government should start building a little bit of non-for-profit vaccine manufacturing facility. And that facility does not have to be used all the time, but it could be useful and could be used as the backup option.” If you take Depo-Provera and can’t get it through your normal pharmacy, Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida said it can help. They aren’t experiencing any interruptions at this time. Pfizer’s statement on medication shortages: “To respond to the dire need to vaccinate more people with our COVID-19 vaccine, we have committed to increasing its supply. This has been enabled through the efforts of our manufacturing division to increase procurement of raw materials and by prioritizing our vaccine on additional fill and finish lines. As a result, production for a small portion of Pfizer’s portfolio will be temporarily impacted. We recognize the importance of each of our medicines to patients and physicians around the world. We are actively working to mitigate any supply interruptions, and we have ensured that there are available therapeutic alternatives to the medicines that will be impacted. For example, In U.S. there are generic brands available of Depo-Provera. “We remain steadfast in our commitment to provide equitable access to all our medicines, including our COVID-19 vaccine, for everyone around the world.” Planned Parenthood statement on availability: “Having access to the birth control method that works best for you is important to each individual’s ability to plan their lives. Patients who choose to use the birth control shot will continue to be able to access it through Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida; we do not anticipate any interruptions at this time. If we experience a shortage in the future, we will work with our patients to find an appropriate alternative.”