Comments Before Federal Committees:
Written Comments Regarding Federal Policy:
Health Watch USA Meetings:
Presentations & Interviews:

Comments Before Federal Committees:  Back To Top
  

Nov. 3, 2023. Public Comment Regarding CDC HICPAC Infection Control Recommendations - Dr. Kevin Kavanagh
Dr. Kevin Kavanagh from Health Watch USA^sm gives a public comment regarding the weakened CDC infection control guidance in view of the risks they impose to immunocompromised individuals. The CDC needs to be mindful of the Americans with Disability Act and protect the most vulnerable in our society when they are formulating new infection recommendations. CDC HICPAC Public Comment, Nov. 3, 2023.   View Video of Comment: https://youtu.be/zUV5Tx_EFI4  
 
Download Written Script of Comment: https://www.healthwatchusa.org/HWUSA-Presentations-Community/PDF-Downloads/20231103-KTK-Comment-HICPAC.pdf  

Download letter concerning the impact the new CDC recommendations have on the immunocompromised and the requirements of The Americans with Disabilities Act. https://www.healthwatchusa.org/HICPAC-CDC/Downloads/20231024-CDC-HICPAC_ADA-Letter.pdf  
  
Aug. 22, 2023 - Public Comment: CDC HICPAC Meeting - Infection Control Standards.
Dr. Kevin Kavanagh, MD, MS, from Health Watch USA^sm makes the case for better CDC infection control recommendations. Respirators or PAPRs should be used when treating all airborne respiratory pathogens. Knowledge of a patient's microbiome is of paramount importance. Asymptomatic carriers in hospitals and nursing homes should be identified with screening and undergo isolation and decolonization protocols. If this fails, cohorting nursing home residents with compatible microbiomes should be considered. Enhanced Barrier Precautions are inadequate to stop the spread of disease. They may even enhance spread by providing a false sense of security. Finally, we must protect the most vulnerable in our society and implement protective strategies in compliance with the ADA. Universal masking in healthcare facilities should be implemented to accomplish this goal. CDC HICPAC Meeting, Aug. 22, 2023. View Written Comment.   YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/E2-ERukRovc     
  
June 9, 2023 - Public Comment: CDC HICPAC Meeting – Enhanced Barrier Precautions
Enhanced barrier precautions is advocated for use to mitigate the spread of CRE and C. Auris. These are highly dangerous organisms. A clinical trial is certainly indicated before planning for adoption in non-research settings. A better approach is screening to identify the microbiome of residents, decolonization and cohorting if decolonization is not successful. It is concerning that the CDC appears to be moving forward with EBP where there is little evidence supporting their effectiveness with dangerous pathogens and also appears to be considering abandoning N95 masking where there is decades of occupational research supporting their use. Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC), June 9, 2023.  View Written Comment     YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/RiFQAaPEHPE  
  
Jun. 8, 2023. The Need for Effective Policy to Prevent Airborne Spread of Pathogens -June 2023 CDC HICPAC Meeting
Dr. Kevin Kavanagh discusses the need for universal and continued use of N95 masks in healthcare settings. Firm standards regarding building ventilation needs to be set along with firm and clear guidance to prevent spread. Comment before the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC), June 8, 2023.  View Written Comment    YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/g1fPL9qRGt8   
   
(CDC Presentation on Updating the 2007 Isolation Guidelines:  https://youtu.be/w1jvJjZZeM4    Downlaod Presentation Slideset  )
    
Feb. 22, 2023. COVID-19 Vaccine Imprinting and the Need to Reformulate the COVID-19 Vaccine.
CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Feb. 23, 2023.  Download Comment
 
Jan. 26, 2023. COVID-19 Vaccine Imprinting and the Need to Reformulate the COVID-19 Vaccine.
FDA Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee.  Jan. 26, 2023.  Download Comment   
  
Jan. 24, 2023. Impact of COVID-19 Immune Dysfunction on Antibiotic Resistant Bacteria- PACCARB Presentation
Dr. Kevin Kavanagh gives a short discussion regarding the impact of immune dysfunction caused by COVID-19 and its impact on antibiotic resistant organisms. It is stressed that exposure needs to be prevented and similar to the protocols used by the Veterans Health Administration system, surveillance and contact precautions are of utmost importance. PACCARB Oral Comment Jan. 24, 2023. https://youtu.be/8QYfp7KSd20   https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Presentations/20230124-PACCARB-PublicComment.htm     Download Written Comment.
  

Nov. 2, 2022. COVID-19: Vaccine Imprinting & The Need for Stronger COVID-19 Policy
Dr. Kevin Kavanagh from Health Watch USA^sm comments on the effectiveness of the new bivalent boosters and the concerns regarding immunological imprinting. In addition, he stresses that we cannot vaccinate our way out of the pandemic. The isolation time for COVID-19 needs to be lengthened and incorporate negative testing before termination. Strong clear guidelines for the use of N95 masks, and improvements in ventilation need to be made. Finally, our goals need to be the prevention of infections and Long COVID. The latter which is starting to cripple our workforce. Public Comment at CDC HICPAC meeting. Nov. 3, 2022. https://youtu.be/opfxE60g84Q   &  https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Presentations/20221103-CDC-HICPAC-PublicComment.htm
   
Written Comment Can Be Downloaded From:   https://healthwatchusa.org/HWUSA-Presentations-Community/PDF-Downloads/20221102-HICPACComment-3.pdf 
  

Sept. 13, 2022. Antibiotic Resistant Infections Increasing. During COVID-19 CMS suppressing many infection in value purchasing programs.  However, MRSA infections did not increase in the VHA system.  Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria (PACCARB) meeting.   Download Written Comment.
  

Aug. 23, 2022.  CDC HICPAC: Need for Data and Risk Adjustment Normalization of Deviance
Dr. Kevin Kavanagh from Health Watch USA^sm discusses the need for "Data for Action". Too often data is highly adjusted and delayed in its release. Risk adjustment should be done to adjust circumstances which cannot be mitigated not to normalize deviance. Risk adjusting for COVID-19, community levels of MRSA are problematic. The Veterans Health Administration has not experienced the pandemic MRSA surge in hospital onset infections that was seen in the private sector. The metric for COVID-19 hospital acquired infections is also severely flawed. Relaxation of school COVID-19 guidance is problematic with the high rate of deaths and hospitalizations in the United States along with the teacher and bus driver shortage. It would be much more pragmatic to wait until the BA.5 booster is available in the next few weeks. Public comment given before the CDC's HICPAC meeting on Aug. 23, 2022.  https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Presentations/20220823-CDC-HICPAC-PublicComment.htm    https://youtu.be/pdTY4jG_2M0
    
Written Comment Can Be Viewed At: https://www.healthwatchusa.org/HWUSA-Presentations-Community/PDF-Downloads/20220823-CDC_HICPAC-Meeting-Comment.pdf  
      

June 2, 2022.  Comment Regarding The CDC adopting the highest level of safety standards to protect patients, the public and frontline staff.  CDC HICPAC Download Written Comment  
   

Mar. 24, 2022.  COVID-19: Universal Use of N95 Masks & Community Risk Zones Should Be Based Upon Infections.
Kevin Kavanagh, MD, MS from Health Watch USA^sm provided the following comment at the the CDC's Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC) Meeting. In summary, when masking is required, I would like to encourage the CDC to require universal use of N95 masks. And in view of the common and disabling effects of long COVID, the CDC should revert to a community risk ranking strategy which is based upon the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infections and has as its goal to decrease the spread of disease. CDC HICPAC.  March 24, 2022.   Video:  https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Presentations/20220324-CDC-HICPAC-PublicComment.htm   View Presentation Video  https://youtu.be/RVG94oT7S4c  Download Written Comment 
       

Mar. 24, 2022.  Written Public Comment regarding CDC presentation on the use of gowns and masks by healthcare workers while treating COVID-19 patients.   HICPAC Meeting Supplemental Comment.  Download Written Comment      
    

Sept. 23, 2021.  Oral Comment: CDC's ACIP Committee Regarding Pfizer Vaccine Boosters.
CDC's Consideration of FDA VRBPA's committee recommendations regarding vaccinated individuals who are biologically high-risk for developing severe COVID-19, and recommendations for boosters for those at high-risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure.  During a raging pandemic, action is needed NOW, we do not always have the luxury of waiting for the results of randomized controlled trials for boosters.  Comment Before CED ACIP, Sept 23, 2021. https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Presentations/20210923-CDC-ACIP-PublicComment.htm     https://youtu.be/CELug9tZI_0           
    

Aug. 13, 2021.  Written Public Comment CDC Advisory Committee on Vaccines Regarding Boosters in the Elderly.    View Comment 
   

Jun. 3, 2021.  Oral & Written Public Comments:  CDC HICPAC Regarding The Need For Better COVID-19 Variant Tracking And Reporting.
The CDC should classify the Delta variant, as a variant of concern. The CDC’s main site should have easy to access and the most up-to-date data available in the world. Advisories regarding both the Indian Variant (Delta Variant) and the P.1 Brazilian or Gamma Variant need to be made. Public Comment Before the CDC HICPAC Committee. June 3, 2021.   Video:   https://healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Presentations/20210603-CDC-HICPAC-PublicComment.htm   Download Comment Letter
     

Sep. 10, 2020.  Oral & Written Public Comments: PACCARB Regarding Need for a Comprehensive National Reporting System. “One Size Does Not Fit All” is an excuse for inaction, it did not work with MRSA and it led to a disastrous uncoordinated wack-a-mole approach with COVID-19. Of utmost importance is the implementation of a National Reporting System for Dangerous Pathogens.  Video:  https://healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Presentations/20200910-PACARB-PublicComment.htm      Download Written Comment
 

36.  Mar. 19, 2025. The NIH agrees, Living with Long COVID is Living with Airborne AIDS
Adam Van Bavel, a long COVID patient activist, discusses his experiences with long COVID and the impact long COVID has on society, including chronic illness, and weakening our country's workforce. He presents a number of informative videos and reviews the literature regarding prognosis and the dearth of available treatments. Prevention is Key, if you do not get COVID you will not get long COVID. Clean air is one of the keys to prevent spread and focusing on children and schools are of utmost importance since it has been observed that 70% of community spread starts in schools. Health Watch USA^sm meeting. You Tube Video: https://youtu.be/O5vJxQY83QE   
 
35. Vaccine developments: Focus on COVID-19
Dr. Wilmore Webley, PhD discusses cognitive damage from COVID-19 and how CNS damage along with other sequelae have made vaccine usage an imperative. In addition, Dr. Webley discusses the types of COVID-19 vaccines and their efficacy along with a summary of new vaccines which are in development. Health Watch USA^sm meeting Jan. 15, 2025. Video link https://youtu.be/_iq3Fo06gp8   
    
35. Dec. 18, 2024. The impact of COVID-19 and long-covid on work and employment: insights from the INSPIRE registry - a CDC-funded initiative.
During the Dec. 18, 2024, Health Watch USA^sm Meeting. During his presentation Dr. Venkatesh stressed that long COVID is placing stresses on our workforce with decreased rates of workforce participation. For example, he cited one study of clinical cohorts where half of people hospitalized with COVID-19 were unable to return to work 6 months after infection. He discussed another study that used data from the US Population Survey, and which showed that work absences up to one week after infection were associated with resulted in an estimated reduction of 500,000 people in the U.S. workforce in 2023. Looking at studies on Long COVID specifically, Dr. Venkatesh highlighted a report that showed that approximately 50% of individuals with symptoms lasting more than 28 days were not working or had a reduced work schedule. Moving into the recent findings of the CDC-funded INSPIRE registry, which followed 6,000 participants with symptoms of a COVID-19 infection for 18 months, Dr. Venkatesh highlighted of those with a positive COVID test and returning to work, 7.2% reported missing more than 10 workdays. Overall, 14% had not returned to work at 3 months after their COVID-19 infection (almost 30% for those with 5+ symptoms). The most frequent symptoms preventing return to work were being more tired, headaches, muscle aches, joint pains and shortness of breath. COVID-19 missed workdays and non-return to work was more frequent in lower paying jobs. This may be due to these workers being in front line positions with less COVID-19 protections available. It is estimated that almost 13 million individuals in the United States may not have returned to work after 3 months post COVID-19 infection. Reinfections are compounding this problem and creating a long-term labor problem in the United States. You Tube Video: https://youtu.be/dAdayeQgyzw  
  

34. Dec. 18, 2024. Association between hospital-onset respiratory viral infections and masking and testing policies at ten US hospitals
Dr. Theodore Pak, MD, PhD, Harvard Medical School presented on "Association between hospital-onset respiratory viral infections and masking and testing policies at ten US hospitals" during the Dec. 18, 2024, Health Watch USA(sm) Meeting. During his presentation Dr. Pak stressed that hospital acquired respiratory infections are common and most transmission is by pre or asymptomatic individuals. There is a 20% to 40% risk of a patient acquiring COVID-19 after exposure to an infected roommate. Universal testing and masking are of very low cost especially when compared to hospital-onset Omicron infections which have a crude mortality rate of 3.2% to 13% of patients in Germany, Singapore and the United Kingdom. The cessation of testing in the United Kingdom was associated with an increase in hospital onset COVID-19 infections. A study of 10 hospitals in Massachusetts found that with the cessation of universal masking and COVID-19 testing, hospital onset of respiratory viruses (SARS-CoV-2, flu, RSV) had a 25% increase. Hospital onset cases then fell by 33% with the reinstitution of mandatory staff masking. YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/oTucFHkZELo  
   

33. Nov. 20, 2024. Infection Disease Hazards and Protections in Health Care -- Aerosol Transmission, Spread by Air
Jane Thomason, MSPH, CIC from National Nurses United discusses the dangers and prevention of aerosolized pathogens. The United States is currently seeing dangerous increases in Tuberculosis, Measles, Meningococcal, Candida auris, and COVID-19 cases. It is estimated that there are between 34,000 to 151,000 cases of influenza and between 3,200 to 6,400 cases of Tuberculosis. Frontline healthcare workers are 11.6 times more likely to have COVID-19 than the general population. Aerosol transmission is an important mechanism of spread in many diseases and our understanding of the mechanism of spread has changed. Particles of various sizes spread through the air, with particle sizes below 100 microns having a propensity to aerosolize. Aerosolization can occur with breathing, speaking, and coughing. Surgical masks are not designed to prevent transmission of aerosolized pathogens. N95 masks provide the minimum level of protection which should be used. Despite the science, a NNU survey of nurses found respirators are only used 65% of the time when treating TB patients and 36% of the time when treating patients with measles. Nearly half of nurses report that facilities are using surgical masks when treating COVID-19 patients. Health Watch USA^sm meeting Nov. 20, 2024. https://youtu.be/ciWkl7d2Lqw   
 
32. COVID-19 Patient Outcomes in the Context of Hospitals Chronically Under-Resourced Nursing Services YouTube Video https://youtu.be/6toFNY86uIc  
Dr. Karen B. Lasater, PhD, RN, FAAN presents on nurse staffing, working environment and nurse to patient ratios' impact on COVID-19 patient mortality. The presentation discusses the newly published article in the international Journal of Nursing Studies entitled: "Hospital nurse staffing variation and Covid-19 deaths: A cross-sectional study" https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0020748924001421
 
The researchers observed that for each additional patient assigned to a nurse there was on average a 20% higher risk of in-hospital death. The article concludes: "Patients with Covid-19 admitted to hospitals with adequate numbers of RNs caring for patients, a workforce rich in BSN-qualified RNs, and high-quality nurse work environments (both prior to and during the Covid-19 pandemic) were more likely to survive the hospitalization. Bolstering these hospital nursing resources during ordinary times is necessary to ensure better patient outcomes and emergency-preparedness of hospitals for future public health emergencies." Health Watch USA^sm meeting August 21, 2024. YouTube Video https://youtu.be/6toFNY86uIc   
   

31. COVID-19, an Update and Critical Evaluation of the United Kingdom's Response
Dr. Jonathan Fluxman presents a COVID-19 update, summarizing our current knowledge and mistakes made during the pandemic. COVID-19 is more of a vascular and immunological disease than a respiratory one. It is primarily spread through respiration and the virus is airborne. The delayed recognition and then once recognized the failure to act to prevent airborne spread is one of the greatest mistakes of the epidemic. Vaccines provide a degree of protection against hospitalizations, deaths and long COVID but not nearly enough to abandon other mitigation measures. Improvements in ventilation are crucial to mitigating indoor spread. The importance of this is underscored by the pandemic being largely driven by super spreader events in congregate settings. Of great concern are the reinfections which are occurring, almost everyone has been infected several times and with each infection the chances of developing long COVID increases. Even children are affected. It is estimated that 12% of children develop long COVID after the first infection, and 16% after the second. The implications of long COVID and delayed organ damage on our society is discussed. Finally, a critique of the United Kingdom's COVID-19 is presented with a discussion of its shortcomings and needed improvements. Health Watch USA^sm meeting. June 19, 2024. View Presentation: https://youtu.be/k6e2ub-vB84     
    

30. May 15, 2024. Overview of the Impacts of Long COVID on Behavioral Health.
Dr. Jacqueline H Becker discusses the definition of Long COVID along with its incidence, impacts on disparate populations and challenges in treatment. The presentation emphasizes the impact of Long COVID on cognitive abilities, executive function and personalities along with potential biological and environmental etiologies. Health Watch USA^sm meeting. View Video: https://youtu.be/aZdv-zXA4N4   
   

29. Apr. 17, 2023. Impacts of COVID-19 in Pathology and Cancer Care.
Dr. Kaitlin Sundling, MD, PhD discusses the impact of COVID-19 on cancer patients and needed precautions the healthcare system needs to adopt to augment the safety of immunocompromised patients. A comprehensive listing of topics and discussions are listed in the timeline below.

Health Watch USA^sm meeting, April 14, 2024. https://youtu.be/LLN7jB_Vwrk 

Timeline

02:00 Pap test a public health success story.
04:31 Decrease in cancer screening during the pandemic.
05:54 Recommended time for initial HPV primary screening.
07:46 Impact of COVID-19 on cancer screening.
09:18 Parallels between COVID-19 antivax movement and HPV vaccination adoption.
12:06 Other Viruses which can cause cancer (HPB, HBV, EBV, HIV, HHV-8, HTLV-1, Merkel cell Polyomavirus).
13:14 COVID-19's lung damage pathology.
15:02 Pathology examples of COVID-19's multi-system organ damage.
15:39 Long-term impact of COVID-19 on cancer risks is not known.
16:53 Many forms of Long COVID.
17:38 How can cancer patients decrease the chances of catching COVID-19?
19:27 Healthcare facilities and providers need to implement strategies to protect high-risk patients.
20:24 COVID-19 vaccination of cancer patients.
21:07 Cancer increases the risk of COVID-19.
22:15 Expert disagreement with the CDC's relaxation of COVID-19 preventive strategies.
23:11 Misinformation similarities with COVID-19 and cancer.
24:21 Impact of COVID-19 on pathology practices and resident training, along with mitigation strategies.
26:51 Need for multi-layered COVID protections and virtual options in medical training and conferences.
28:06 Impact of artificial intelligence on pathological practices.
30:37 Dr. Rudolf Virchow: An old but new approach to medicine.
31:38 References and Resources

An expanded version of this talk (41 minutes) with a more detailed description of the PAP Test and HPV diagnoses along with an expanded comparison of automated versus human microscopic pathological diagnosis can be viewed at: https://youtu.be/76RIdKi34U8
  

28. Mar. 20, 2024. Long COVID Scotland - Dr. Sally Witcher and Jane Ormerod
Sally Witcher, PhD and Jane Ormerod from long COVID Scotland discuss the status of the COVID-19 pandemic and long COVID in the United Kingdom and Scotland. The presenters stressed the lack of available healthcare for those suffering from long COVID and also the lack of gathering data and transparency regarding the magnitude of the problem. Governmental strategies are over reliant on vaccinations and even if vaccines produced ironclad durable immunity, they are not widely available to the general public. Few if any are masking, including medical personnel in major healthcare centers. Similar to many countries, there is rampant misinformation which is inhibiting the public health response. Currently, the United Kingdom's workforce is being adversely affected to a large degree by chronic illnesses, but there remains little discussion or recognition of the impacts of long COVID. Health Watch USA^sm meeting, March 20, 2024. View YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/K22GqxLKrRg 
    

28. Feb. 21, 2024. Irregular reemergence of pathogens after lifting of pandemic restrictions - Matthias Maiwald, MD
Dr. Matthias Maiwald presents on the patterns of pathogen re-emergence after the COVID-19 pandemic. This is based on respiratory multiplex PCR data from a major women’s and children’s hospital in Singapore between 2019 and 2023. The dataset includes 83,250 results, mostly from paediatric patients. Pandemic response measures disrupted the usual patterns of respiratory pathogens, and the subsequent relaxation affected their re-emergence. Nonenveloped viruses returned first, and some viruses (e.g. respiratory syncytial virus [RSV]) had out-of-season peaks that were higher than pre-pandemic peaks, and some other viruses (e.g. adenovirus and metapneumovirus) had unusual phases of high activity. Bordetella pertussis (agent of whooping cough) remained near-absent until the end of 2023, while Bordetella parapertussis (agent of parapertussis) and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (agent of childhood pneumonia) started to return around March 2023. Population-based immunological susceptibility and unusual exposure patterns presumably played a role in these observed phenomena. Health Watch USA^sm Meeting. View YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/Yx_VyP3Z9wI
  

26. Sept. 20, 2023. Navigating COVID-19: How Kidney Patients Have Taken Responsibility to Protect Themselves
Paul Conway, Chair of Policy & Global Affairs - American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) presents on the continued dangers of COVID-19 and calls on the Federal government and healthcare industry to continue strategies to protect vulnerable patients.
  
In addition to continued mitigation and prevention of COVID-19, the government should:

* Align regulation and payment policies for vaccine innovation.

* Foster innovation for immunosupressive drugs for transplant patients via the FDA immediately.

* Formalize telemedicine flexibilities.

* Expand home dialysis options so more patients can qualify.

* Protect the rights of kidney patients under the ADA.

* Expand data transparency and access to patients, researchers and elected officials.
  

Finally, the CDC needs to implement stronger mitigation strategies in healthcare settings to ensure the safest possible healthcare for vulnerable patients. Health Watch USA^sm meeting  https://youtu.be/NFmIGCrM3l0      
  
25.  Aug. 16, 2023. The Economic and Societal Cost of Disinformation and Not Implementing Optimal Strategies.
Dr. Richard Bruns, PhD discusses cost-benefit analysis of public health initiatives. This analysis can be applied to the cost of implementing, discouraging, and not implementing preventative strategies. The calculation relies on the determination of the number of lives saved along with the cost of saving each life, and if the amount of resources allocated would cost more lives than lives saved. In the United States, the breakeven point for strategies is spending 10 million dollars per life saved, or $500,000 per life year saved. The effects of misinformation and disinformation have discouraged many from becoming vaccinated. When assigning dollar values to the lives lost and health harms of not getting vaccinated, misinformation has a monetized cost of between 50 to 300 million dollars every day, almost all of which is due to the health harms. There is a clear and large benefit to implementing preventative public health strategies. It does not make economic sense to discontinue preprocedural testing for COVID-19 or to drop masking requirements. It is amazing how facilities will not pay for high quality personal protective equipment (PPE). The cost in disability, lives and in healthcare disruption more than justifies expenditures for these strategies. Health Watch USA^sm meeting: Aug. 16, 2023. https://youtu.be/qJItlfQsO8k 
  
24.  June 7, 2023. The Unbearable Mitigation of SARS-CoV-2 Endemicity
Dr. Georgios Pappas, a physician from Greece, specializing in zoonotic infections and epidemic preparedness and known for his detailed report on the largest laboratory accident in Southeast Asia which release Brucella discussed the Endemicity of COVID-19. He discusses the Greek experience in combating COVID-19 and the political forces in his country which both helped and hindered the public health effort. These forces include: The Church, The Russian Factor, Scientific Dissidents, Political Dissidents, the Need for Tourists and The Pandemic as a Political issue. There are 14 fallacies (mis and disinformation) which segments of the public hold regarding the virus. These include:

1. The virus is gone.
2. SARS-CoV-2 is just another Influenza.
3. The Epidemic is Mild.
4. SARS-CoV-2 needs to adapt.
5. Omicron is milder.
6. We can predict the viral moves.
7. Eventually, we will achieve herd immunity.
8. We can rely on treatments.
9. Immunocompromised should shelter.
10. Minimal risk for the "young & healthy".
11. Healthcare can handle it.
12. The truth will (automatically) prevail.
13. It's not our job.
14. We won.

Health Watch USA^sm meeting, June 7, 2023. https://youtu.be/ZxM-PQ_Mryw 
  
23.  May 17, 2023.  Dr. Amed Awan, MD, MPH discusses misinformation and its impact on medicine and public health.
Misinformation and purposefully spread disinformation is being widely posted on social media with little review of its validity. People spend an average of two and a half hours on social media every day. Over 70% of those in the United States use social media daily. Disinformation is prevalent, exemplified by the Washington Post publishing a leaked document which states only 1% of fake Russian social media profiles are caught. The COVID-19 pandemic has been politicized and there are political motives for disseminating disinformation. The consequences are staggering. We know that more than 1.1 million individuals have died of COVID-19. As of May 2022, there were over 318,000 vaccine preventable deaths. Individuals whose deaths were largely caused by mis and disinformation. Health Watch USA^sm meeting. May 17, 2023. https://youtu.be/NSecP05PrMo  
 
22. Apr. 19, 2023.  Origins of COVID0-19 based upon computer modeling and vaccine design.
Nikolai Petrovsky, MBBS, PhD discusses computer modeling of the ACE2 receptors of various species along with vaccine development and the insights these provide into the origin of SARS-CoV-2 (the virus which causes COVID-19). Of importance is that the Furin Cleavage Site on the SARS-CoV-2 virus is not found in SARS-CoV-1 or in the broader family of viruses. The Furin Cleavage Site can be obtained through mutation or recombination, but neither seems plausible. The binding of the original virus to the ACE2 receptor has the highest affinity to human receptors. It binds less tightly to other animal cells. The pangolin was felt to be a possible intermediary host. The recovered coronavirus from this animal had a highly similar spike protein to SARS-CoV-2, but the remainder of the virus was highly dissimilar. The possibility was discussed that the pangolin may be the source of an artificially transferred spike protein to SARS-CoV-2. Modeling predicted that COVID-19 would not efficiently bind to the bat ACE2 receptor which supports the need for an intermediate host. The strongest viral binding to any ACE2 animal receptor studied, was to humans, which in itself indicates the original virus was already optimally evolved to infect humans at the very first of the pandemic. Health Watch USA^sm meeting April 19, 2023. https://youtu.be/h_3LhZppIow  
      
21. Mar. 15, 2023. One Health and the potential of H5N1 jumping from Birds to Humans - Dr. Daniel Perez
Daniel Perez, PhD discusses avian influenza viruses. Some, such as the H5N1 are highly pathogenic and have low infectivity in humans while others have low pathogenicity such as the H9N2 virus but are highly infectious in humans. Even though the H5N1 has caused a massive avian pandemic, there are relatively few cases in humans in the past 6 years compared to 2015 and before. Thus, the risks to humans are low, but there is significant concern regarding risks to our food supply. Whole inactivated virus adjuvanted vaccines gave a stronger immunological response than modified attenuated viral vaccines. However, immunomodulators can increase the response to attenuated viral vaccines. Vaccination of poultry is labor intensive. The use of attenuated live viral vaccines has distinct advantages in agriculture. In addition, some countries will not import vaccinated poultry.

Several lessons can be learned regarding our current pandemic.
1. The geographic breadth and size of the current N5H1 pandemic is of significant concern regarding possible emergence of new variants which have increased adaption for infection of humans and mammals.
2. Viral mutations and new clades do not necessarily mean lower pathogenicity.
3. Animal reservoirs can cause the recurrence of a viral strain which became extinct in humans. This happened with the H1N1 influenza virus.

Health Watch USA^sm meeting March 15, 2023. https://youtu.be/O0Fj95cECcE  
   
20. Feb. 15, 2023. Immune Debt Versus SARS-CoV-2 Immune Dysfunction
Dr. Kevin Kavanagh from Health Watch USA^sm explains why Immune Dysfunction is thought by many to be the main driver of the surges in bacterial and viral infections the world is experiencing. Immune debt caused by lockdowns is an unlikely cause of the RSV surges. For example, Sweden had two large surges of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections but did not have lockdowns and had little use of masking by the public. Dr. Kavanagh presents both epidemiological, clinical and laboratory evidence to support this etiology. The overriding message is that public health interventions, such as masking and social distancing protect individuals and communities and do not cause harm. Health Watch USA^sm Meeting. Feb. 15, 2023. https://youtu.be/0UaveBlCuPg     
  
19.  Nov. 16, 2022. COVID-19: New Variants and the BA.5 Bivalent Booster
Dr. Wilmore C. Webley, Assoc. Professor & Assoc. Dean, Office of Inclusion & Engagement in the Graduate School at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Dr. Webley has received a M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Microbiology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, with expertise in immunology, infectious disease, host-pathogen interactions, and a concentration in vaccine development. Dr. Webley discusses the new bivalent BA.5 booster and the challenges the new variants impose. In addition, an overview is presented on the life cycle of viruses, their propensity for mutation and the ever-increasing myriad of SARS-CoV-2 variants which have evolved. An overview of the WHO classification of viruses is also given. Health Watch USA Meeting. Nov. 16, 2022. https://youtu.be/VEIixXmZ3f8   https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20221121-WilmoreWebley.htm      
  
18. Oct. 19, 2022.  Mitigating the Effect of COVID in Children: The Struggle Continues
Allen Geller, RN, MPH, from the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health discusses COVID-19 in children. COVID-19 is still a serious pandemic in the United States with 350 to 400 total deaths per day. Children can get COVID-19 and develop serious disease. A common misconception is that children do not spread the disease, but they can spread it to both teachers and caregivers. Schools are one of the great reservoirs for transmission of COVID. For school safety, during high levels of community spread, masking, rapid testing and cohorting are strategies which should be implemented. Students should be vaccinated before the start of the school year. One of the goals for adequate ventilation is at least 6 air exchanges per hour which has led to better health outcome and is important for cognition and reducing school absences. During the pandemic there was approximately a doubling of absenteeism.
• Push for districts to promote vaccinating a large number of 5 to 11 year olds that are still not vaccinated.
• Work with districts to rebuild their COVID dashboards.
• Regular testing of children is supported by two-thirds of parents. Make provisions of rapid antigen tests opt-out rather than opt-in. There is strong support for providing take home rapid tests.
• Strongly reconsider remasking in periods of surges reviewing week by week attendance data.
• Wastewater testing has the potential of being used to monitor for the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in schools.
• School based attendance records are also important triggers for medical and public health review.
• Portable CO2 monitors should be used to monitor air quality in school rooms.
Health Watch USA^sm meeting, Oct. 19, 2022.  https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20221019-AllenGeller.htm