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Mar. 4, 2021.  Oral & Written Public Comments:  CDC HICPAC Regarding Better Standards & Tracking To Protect Frontline Workers.  Dr. Kevin Kavanagh from Health Watch USA^sm discusses the need for stronger standards to stop dangerous pathogens. These standards should be based upon what is required to stop spread, rather than what we currently have or are willing to provide. In addition, it is imperative that a national reporting system, and harmonization of CDC materials and standards be implemented. Greater attention also needs to be placed on aerosolization of the SARS-CoV-2 and recommendations for air sanitization and complete air exchanges.  Mar. 4, 2021.   Video:  https://healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Presentations/20210304-CDC-HICPAC-PublicComment.htm      Download Written Comment  
    

Feb. 11, 2021.  Oral & Written Public Comments:  PACCARB Regarding Universal Reporting of Pathogens, Better COVID-19 HAI Metrics.
Dr. Kevin Kavanagh from Health Watch USA^smgives a public comment during the Sept 11, 2021 Presidential Advisory Council on Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria which stresses the need for universal reporting of all dangerous pathogens, including antibiotic resistant organisms.  In addition, the United States needs to increase support of public health to implement early surveillance and case tracking. Health Care Worker Acquisitions of dangerous pathogens need to be reported along with revising our current COVID-19 HAI metric, which is not effectively capturing infections. Video: https://healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Presentations/20210211-PACARB-PublicComment.htm  
    
Expanded Written Comments: http://www.healthwatchusa.org/HWUSA-Presentations-Community/PACCARB-WrittenComments/20210211-PACCARB-PublicComment.pdf
 

Written Comments Regarding Federal Policy:   Back To Top

 
Jan. 15, 2022.  Action Letters Requesting an independent Presidential Federal Advisory Committee for COVID-19 be reestablished under the Biden administration.  The letter is signed by Health Watch USA, National Nurses United and the Mass. Nurses Assoc. 

  
Feb. 3, 2022.  Written Comment on the U.S. Senate Help Committee's bipartisan Pandemic and Public Health Preparedness and Response Bill (PREVENT Pandemics Act)  Download Comment
    

Mar. 10, 2022.  2023-2026 NHSS comments, “National Health Security Strategy” regarding pandemic preparedness and response.  Download Comment 
  

Health Watch USA Meetings Regarding COVID-19:  Back To Top
     

17. May 18, 2022.  Insights Into Patterns of Bacterial Resistance During Seasonal Flu and COVID-19 Surges
Dr. Vikas Gupta, Director, MMS Medical Affairs at Becton, Dickinson and Company; and Dr. Kalvin Yu, Vice President, Medical & Scientific Affairs, US Region. Prior to being at BD, Dr Yu was Chief of Infectious Diseases at Southern California Kaiser Permanente. They discuss "Insights from near real-time data on infection rates and related outcomes in the post COVID-19 vaccine period." They also give insights into patterns of rising bacterial resistance that they have observed during this time period. Health Watch USA^sm Meeting. May 18, 2022. https://youtu.be/RG57cihIbv4  
  

16.  Mar. 16, 2022.  The Dark Side of Science: Misconduct in Biomedical Research
Elizabeth Bik, PhD discusses research integrity problems in published journals. She discusses examples of plagiarism, falsification and fabrication. Dr. Bik estimates research integrity problems affect 5% to 10% of published peer reviewed scientific papers . In a review of 782 papers which had integrity problems which were reported 5 years previously to the publication, journal editors took no action on 65.5%, corrected 26.9%, retracted 7.4% and published an expression of concern in 0.3%, Some integrity problems are the result of an organized disinformation effort based in China, Russia and Iran, which generates fake research and manuscripts for those willing to purchase their services. Methods of distinguishing fake and flawed research is also discussed. Health Watch USA^sm Meeting. Mar. 16, 2022.  https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20220316-HWUSA-Elizabeth_Bik.htm   https://youtu.be/jAEe8iVvteU  
  
15. Feb. 16, 2022.  COVID-19: School Safety and Mitigation in Massachusetts
Amanda Mulcahy, RN describes the COVID-19 mitigation strategies which have been implemented at her Massachusetts' school system. These include upgrading ventilation, masks, social distancing, barriers, outdoor classes, robust testing, vaccinations and boosters, and symptom monitoring and tracking. The collection of data was also used to evaluate strategies and to guide the timing of implementation. Health Watch USA^sm Meeting. https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20220216-HWUSAMulcahy.htm     https://youtu.be/JVYKWhW0ffk   
  
14. Jan. 20, 2022. COVID-19 Update in the State of Florida and Issues Beyond
Linda Spaulding, RN, CIC discusses the current state of COVID-19 in the State of Florida. Topics include, staffing shortages, worker safety, violence against healthcare workers and reduced access to healthcare with critical non-COVID patients. Health Watch USA^sm Meeting.  https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20220119-HWUSA-Spaulding.htm   https://youtu.be/ARiwww_NX30
   
13.  Dec. 15, 2021. COVID-19: A Perspective from Healthcare Professionals from Around The World.
On Dec 15, 2021, a meeting of prominent infectious disease experts from around the world was conducted by Health Watch USA^sm Authorities from the United States, Singapore, Australia, Germany, and Peru were in attendance along with a short narrative update from the United Kingdom. Overall, all nations are reporting a significant rise in cases due to the Delta Variant. Omicron is starting to take hold and the United Kingdom is bracing for an onslaught of patients which may overrun their healthcare system. Preventative strategies and barriers of the various countries are presented. Strategies discussed are masking, testing, travel bans, vaccine passports, natural immunity, vaccinations and financial disincentives. The United States, similar to other countries around the world, have little or no reserve to muster to confront an onslaught of hospitalizations due to the highly infectious Omicron Variant. Unless the United States starts to embrace public health advice, COVID-19 may become a catastrophe both in lives ruined, lost and in economically breaking dollar costs. Health Watch USA^sm Meeting.  https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20211215-International-COVID-19.htm    https://youtu.be/QOgZcBPqBEk   
   
12.  Nov. 17, 2021. COVID-19: Cardiac Manifestations in the Young and Occupational Health For Front Line Workers.
Carol A. Clancy, NP-C, MSN, presents a severe case of COVID-19 in a young family member who developed severe myocarditis requiring ECMO but had few pulmonary symptoms. This case underscores the occupational health risks encountered by even young frontline workers. The pharmaceutical industry implemented a robust system to protect their workers, including weekly COVID-19 testing, access to onsite and home testing as needed, availability of abundant PPE, upgrading building ventilation systems, the ability for workers to work from home (if able), and paid sick leave with presumptive short-term disability. Many other sectors of the healthcare industry did not provide this degree of support for frontline workers. Health Watch USA^sm Meeting.  https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20211117-HWUSA-Clancy.htm  https://youtu.be/sHfaIhc_Owg  
    

11.  Oct. 20, 2021.  COVID-19: Dr. Ed Nardell Discusses Advantages of UV-C Air Disinfection Using Upper Room Fixtures.
Dr. Nardell is professor of medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, discusses germicidal UV is the essential technology for disinfecting air in rooms where transmission is occurring. Dr. Nardell provides information on the efficacy and safety of UV-C along with comparing the efficacy of upper room disinfection units to free standing inbox units and UV-C in central air conditioning and heating systems. In a pandemic a goal of 20 complete air exchanges per hour is ideal and upper room UV-C is a cost efficient and safe way of achieving this goal. In addition, the use of carbon dioxide monitors to determine rebreathed air fraction and infection risk is also discussed. Health Watch USA^sm Meeting.  https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20211020-HWUSA-Nardell.htm   https://youtu.be/HAt9b-lxW38     
   

Aug. 13, 2021. COVID-19: Gov. Dukakis Discusses Infrastructure and Opening of Schools
Dr. Kevin Kavanagh from Health Watch USA^sm and Governor Dukakis discuss infrastructure upgrades (including ventilation systems) which are needed to open schools safer. Also discussed are the importance of testing everyone in schools (teachers and students) twice weekly and using N95 masks to help prevent infection with the Delta Variant All who can need to become vaccinated. Although, those vaccinated may still develop breakthrough infections, the vaccines are very good in preventing deaths and hospitalizations. Jeff Santos & Governor Dukakis. https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-RadioShows/20210813-JeffSantos.htm    
     

10.  Jul. 21, 2021.  COVID-19:  Lessons Learned in Peru: 
Dr. Patrick Palmieri from Peru discusses the Peruvian COVID-19 pandemic and Lambda Variant. The effects of the Delta Variant are uncertain because of an underdeveloped healthcare system and poor recordkeeping. Similar to what was reported by Dr. Paul Yonga from Kenya corruption was a major barrier https://youtu.be/oTOFJiLYa2Q  . In Peru's case this involved a lack of ventilators and oxygen. There also appeared to be a higher rate of physicians being diagnosed with COVID-19 who are vaccinated. This observation is compounded by questions of the efficacy of the vaccine and some healthcare workers giving fake vaccination shots. Compared to excess death data, the true death rate in Chile was three-fold higher. The difference was created by the Government only counting those deaths which had a positive test in a country with limited testing. This is a situation similar to India. (Dr. Rodrigeus-Bano from Spain also discussed this problem in his presentation hhttps://youtu.be/pWuu10Gg7ro  ). There is very little vaccination hesitancy in Chile. The vaccine rollout was marred by a scandal of the rich and influential receiving the vaccine first. One success is the Peruvian program of vaccinating people in their homes. It is perplexing why vaccines and at home vaccinations are so controversial in the United States. This type of activity should be what public health is all about.  Health Watch USA Meeting^sm.  Download Slides 
View YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/bd5-vkiEdwU
   
9.  Jun. 9, 2021. COVID-19: India In Crisis -- Vineeta Gupta, MD, JD
Dr. Vineeta Gupta describes the conditions in India and the socioeconomic challenges which inhibit the pandemics control. The impact of the Delta (B1617.2) Variant on India and the United States is also discussed. Health Watch USA^sm meeting. https://youtu.be/vsOj76yBH9g    https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20210609-Gupta.htm 
 
8.  May 19, 2021. COVID-19: Infection Control in the Ambulatory Care Setting During a Pandemic.
Sonja Rivera Saenz, MPH, Infection Control Director at Atrius Health, discusses challenges and strategies regarding the control and prevention of the spread of COVID-19 in the ambulatory care setting. Health Watch USA^sm Meeting. https://youtu.be/pxiuS3r4eJM   
  
7.  Apr. 21, 2020. Grief, Morning, Loss and Dying in the Age of COVID-19
Psychologist Alan Cusher discusses the complexity of dealing with loss and death during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also discusses the different types of loss which the nation is dealing with and how COVID-19 has inhibited our ability to copy and resolve these losses. Health Watch USA^sm Meeting. https://youtu.be/99hEmPSN5PI   
  

6.  Mar. 17, 2021. Dr. Henry Hrdlicka, PhD Dicusses Long-Hauler Syndrome.  bsp;
Dr. Henry Hrdlicka from Gaylord Specialty Healthcare discusses the presentations and pathophysiology of Long Hauler Syndrome. COVID-19 affects many organs of the body including lung, kidney, musculoskeletal, heart, GI and CNS. Anxiety and depression and PTSD are seen in many patients, it is unclear if these psychological symptoms are from a primary effect of the virus or a secondary effect from stress and isolation. Health Watch USA^sm meeting. https://youtu.be/aewNqxWm_Ngga      
 

5.  Jan. 20, 2021.  Dr. Regina LaRocque from MGH and Harvard Medical School discusses the impact of COVID-19 on Massachusetts and the problems and drivers of vaccine hesitancy. Health Watch USA^sm meeting. YouTube Video. (20:45)  https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20210120-HWUSA-LaRocque.htm   https://youtu.be/5glqLCzcZtozcZto   
 

4.  Dec. 16, 2020. COVID-19 Spread:  A Role For Air Disinfection
Edward Nardell, MD is a professor at Harvard Medical School and discusses the safety and efficacy of upper room Germicidal UV (GUV) fixtures and compares them to natural, mechanical ventilation and portable room air cleaners. A historical review is given along with the positive impact GUV fixtures have had dating back to cleaning air in schools during the 1942 measles epidemic.  These fixtures can achieve the 6 to 12 complete air exchanges recommended by the CDC for infectious disease pandemics.   Health Watch USA^sm meeting.  YouTube Video (24:14):  https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20211020-HWUSA-Nardell.htm    https://youtu.be/dAJCI0pcVKY   
   
3.  Dec. 16, 2020. COVID-19 Down Under: The Australian Experience
Professor Imogen Mitchell, Dean of Medicine at the ANU Medical School, located in Canberra, Australia. Since March of 2020 she has been seconded to become the Clinical Director of the ACT COVID-19 Response. She discusses the COVID-19 Australian Experience. Although federated, Australia formed a national cabinet in March to address the pandemic and implemented a uniform national response. This strategy was advised by the Australian Health Principal Protection Committee. Political leaders implemented strategies which were recommended by public health officials. Strategies of travel bans, fast and hard lockdowns, contact tracing (even the use of apps in restaurants), social distancing and use of masks are discussed. Australia is an example of how public health strategies can efficiently and effectively control a pandemic. If the United States did as well, adjusted for population, the USA would only have 12 to 13 thousand deaths as of Dec. 16, 2020. Health Watch USA^sm meeting.   https://www.healthwatchusa.net/Videos-Meeting/20201216-HWUSA-Mitchell.htm   YouTube Video:  https://youtu.be/gtMo4SleRJQ  
    
2.  Nov. 18, 2020. COVID-19: COVID Facility Updates for Public K-12 Schools
Ken Wertz Executive Director of the Massachusetts Facilities Administrators Association discusses environmental considerations to make facilities safer during the COVID-19 pandemic. The processes of cleaning, disinfecting and sanitizing were discussed. The difference between a disinfectant and sanitizer was illustrated with the shift to students eating in classrooms. Before the change, a disinfectant was used to clean classrooms, but after the initiation of this strategy, a safer product, a sanitizer, needed to be used. In addition, pandemic strategies involving heating and air conditioning systems were explained along with the difference between air quality and air flow reports. The latter being of utmost importance in a pandemic. Strategies of air filtration and sanitation using UV Light and bipolar ionization of the air were also discussed. Health Watch USA^sm meeting.  https://youtu.be/GvE9LqxzEKM   
  
1.  Nov. 18, 2020. COVID-19: Risks and Solutions For Safe School Systems
Rafael Moure-Eraso, PhD, Massachusetts Teacher Association from Environmental and Safety Committee discusses the road blocks teachers have encountered it there quest for safe schools along with the importance of proper planning, PPE, social distancing, air quality, and social distancing. Health Watch USA^sm meeting.   https://youtu.be/tg5GxodZc3c   
  

 
Health Watch USA Presentations:  Back To Top

11.  Infection Control Today Deep Dive - Health Watch USA & Dr. Kevin Kavanagh.
The histroy of Health Watch USA^sm and Dr. Kevin Kavanagh's interset in infectous disease. What is behind the correct perdictions of the Delta Surge and the need for Boosters, along with last years warning against relying on herd immunity. Infection Control Today. Sept. 29, 2021. https://www.medicalworldnews.com/view/deep-dive-into-infection-prevention
      

10.  Founder Of Health Care Advocacy Group Disappointed In Special Session
“It is possible the next variant will cause less disease and we will see a diminution of problems with our society, but so far, each iteration of this virus has been worse than the previous one,” said Kavanagh.
Kavanagh was scheduled to have surgery next week in Tennessee, but it’s been postponed until early October. Kavanagh is not convinced the surgery will occur even then. “In my mind, I’m asking myself, and again, you have to remember I’m very biased on this. But, I’m asking myself why should I be the one to have to delay needed surgery which may affect my longevity in life, because someone didn’t wish to take a vaccine,” said Kavanagh.  WEKU  Stu Johnson.  Sept. 10, 2021.
https://www.weku.org/coronavirus/2021-09-10/founder-of-health-care-advocacy-group-disappointed-in-special-session     
    

9.   The Doctor Is On: Fields Tough Questions About COVID-19
“COVID-19 is not just respiratory, it affects every organ of the body. This is a serious type of infection. And we need to be focusing on trying to keep this virus from spreading, plus protecting our young.” The pediatric hospitals are filling. But you also need to remember that approximately 200,000 or more children have lost a caregiver to COVID-19. I mean, they can spread the disease. And it’s having a profound impact on them. And people who are not getting elective surgery, they’re not getting it because the hospitals are filling with [patients who have COVID-19]. It’s a numbers game. Vaccination is a shield, cuts it down a bit. Masks are a shield, cuts it down a bit. Put those two together, and you’re now starting to get some significant protection. You fix indoor building ventilation, you do social distancing, and now you start to formulate a workable plan of getting out of this pandemic.   Infection Control Today.  Aug. 11, 2021.  https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/the-doctor-is-on-fields-tough-questions-about-covid-19    
       

8.  COVID-19: Lessons Learned A Global Perspective
June 15, 2021 Conference COVID-19: Lessons Learned A Global Perspective. Subjects include, disinformation, anti-vaxxers, the false narrative of herd immunity, under counting of the pandemic's deaths, animals hosts (white tail deer) for SARS-CoV-2, how masks work, how schools can be opened safely, and how to live with an endemic virus. The Delta Variant and future variants are discussed, along with vaccine breakthrough infections. Southern Kentucky AHEC. Aug. 6, 2021.  https://youtu.be/dIgEAT73kcM    
      

7.  Everybody Needs to be Vaccinated and Wear a Mask
Kevin Kavanagh, MD: "The initial SARS virus is extremely deadly, and also spreads like wildfire. Luckily, it was snuffed out with public health strategies. But that virus also attached to the H2 receptor. And that’s what caused this virus to be so lethal. That’s the SARS virus. Well, the viruses are similar. They’re both coronaviruses. (SARS-CoV-2), The virus that we’re currently dealing with has a lot of room to continue to mutate, and to become more infectious and more lethal." “I am convinced this virus is about one or two iterations away from completely avoiding the vaccine. And remember, we have the lambda variant and the kappa variant which are sitting out there in the wings, waiting for immunity to drop and possibly cause another wave.”  Infection Control Today.  July 27, 2021.
https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/everybody-needs-to-be-vaccinated-and-wear-a-mask    YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/ILSdqxDBz8M 
    

6.   COVID-19: Vaccine Safety, Variants & How Vaccines Work
Dr. Kevin Kavanagh from Health Watch USA^sm explains how viruses work and how vaccines can stop them. In addition, he describes the vaccine approval process and the safety data which we have so far. The risks of COVID-19 including Long-Haulers Syndrome are discussed in detail and how the risks of COVID-19 far exceed the risks of the vaccine. Misinformation is spreading and various examples are refuted. Finally, COVID-19 viral variants are discussed and how they impact vaccine efficacy. Presentation to UnitedHere. Apr. 6, 2021. (27:56). YouTube Video link https://youtu.be/gpcjD8JGN5k  
    

5.  COVID-19: Benefits of Vaccinations and Risks of COVID-19
Dr. Kevin Kavanagh from Health Watch USA^sm discusses the urgent need for all to be vaccinated. Risks of both COVID-19 and vaccinations are discussed in relation to the different vaccines becoming available and the different variants of the virus which are emerging. The recent conclusion of the National Academy of Science that the SARS-CoV-2 Virus is aerosolized is of utmost importance, since most frontline workers do not have adequate PPE or work in healthy buildings. This makes being vaccinated of utmost importance. Health Watch USA & Massachusetts. Nurses Association.  The Labor Guild of the Archdiocese of Boston, Braintree, MA. Feb. 22, 2021. (34:17)  Download Slides   View YouTube VIdeo:   https://youtu.be/GwJk5EcTg5Y   
    

4.  COVID 19 Answers Dr. Kevin Kavanagh - Ron Crider
Dr. Kevin Kavanagh answers the most important questions relating to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Kevin Kavanagh is founder and Board Chairman of Health Watch USA^sm, a non-profit patient advocacy and healthcare policy research organization. Dr. Kavanagh has been an Associate Editor for the Journal of Patient Safety since July 2014, and is a member of the Editorial Board of Infection Control Today.
Dr. Kavanagh discusses a wide range of subjects from the implications of the newly reported viral mutations, how the new vaccines were developed, safe food handling, how to stay safe and slow down the spread of the virus, and long-term complications of the virus including heart damage (myocarditis) along with long hauler syndrome.  Dec. 28, 2020.  https://youtu.be/CD824wCyrVM 
    

3.  COVID-19: Experience in Other Countries. Dr. Kevin Kavanagh from Health Watch USA^sm discusses the 2019 COVID-19 International Webinar which was organized with the Massachusetts Nurses Association. Most nations underestimated the lethality and infectivity of SARS-CoV-2. As more knowledge was gained public health guidance in various countries changed and their public changed their behavior. In the United States the changing narrative created mistrust and the public did not follow guidance. Internationally two main strategies emerged: The first strategy was a hard close down of the economy and when cases bottomed out, aggressive case tracking was started. The second strategy was universal use of masks. Case definitions differ widely between countries and the best comparison can be made using the rate of excess deaths as calculated by comparing historical death rates with the current observed death rates. Preparation was also key to confronting the pandemic. Singapore had a stockpile of three N-95 masks per resident of the country and had an operational cellphone tracking system for case tracking.  Infection Control Today.  (15:25)  July 28, 2020.  https://youtu.be/XvNsTdV26t0  

    
2.  Founder of Health Watch USA: Kentucky should consider shutting bars
“We still have our heads in the sand, thinking ‘It won't happen here in Kentucky, we need to go on just living as we always have,’” said Dr. Kevin Kavanagh, the founder and board chairman of Health Watch USA^sm, a non-profit patient advocacy and healthcare policy research organization. “And that's anything but the truth.”
Dr. Kavanagh is growing increasingly worried that the pleas for people to wear masks are falling on deaf ears.
“I mean, if they're not wearing masks in the grocery store, they're probably not going to wear them in a bar where they're trying to drink at the same time,” Dr. Kavanagh said.   Citing research that shows daily growth in infections would be significantly reduced if 80% of the population wears masks. Dr. Kavanagh suggested the federal government issue a stronger directive on masks.
“If you have a huge outbreak, you can have governors take the lead in putting out fires,” Dr. Kavanagh said. “But to prevent spread between states, the virus knows no geographic boundaries. You need to have a national coherent policy.”  Lex 18 News.  July 2, 2020. 
https://www.lex18.com/news/coronavirus/founder-of-healthcare-org-beshear-should-consider-shutting-bars 
   

1.  Protecting Our Protectors:  A conversation with RN Chris Pontus and Dr. Kevin Kavanagh.
Wednesday, April 1, 2020 7:00 PM 8:30 PM  Critical Connections.  https://www.criticalconnections.org/covid-events/2020/4/1/protecting-our-protectors-a-conversation-with-rn-chris-pontus-and-dr-kevin-kavanagh