Andrew, PhD, MPH, CPH

In New York, @NiagaraFallsUSA will illuminate in teal on March 15, 10-10:15pm, joining 465+ landmarks in 19 countries around the world and 34 US states in observance of International Long COVID Awareness Day. Grateful for the recognition of this historic struggle shared by many.

Take Action to Support COVID Vaccines Today! Tell the CDC to Protect Universal Access to COVID Vaccines and Establish Science-Based Expert Oversight on Long COVID. Instructions at: peoplescdc.substack.com/p/public-comme…

Not so. When the pandemic started, I was president of my state ACC chapter and was chair-elect of the BOG. I went to my hospital almost every day. My office was 50 feet from our main covid ICU and was across the hall from where the doctors would hang out. As others did, I volunteered for every crisis staffing pool and worked as a hospitalist and for over a week as an ICU intern. I had a front-row seat to the pandemic in my hospital and was in touch with cardiologists throughout the state and the country. My 900-bed hospital was as empty as it has ever been in the spring of 2020. The peak census of covid patients was 150. Everyone noticed the dearth of patients presenting with CV symptoms. I had one patient present very late with AV block who developed renal failure. I asked him why he waited and he admitted he was terrified to come to the ER because of all the images on TV. Many colleagues have related similar stories of patients who were injured or died from delayed care. My health system had to lay off many HCW because they had nothing to do. The experience of CV leaders in my state and around the country was similar. I created an ACC campaign called #HeartCareCantWait to try to overcome public fear of going to ERs. I encouraged my hospital to communicate to the public that we were not overwhelmed, had plenty of beds, and was a safe place to receive care. In late April, I wrote to the governor of the state asking him to end the insanity and restore normal health care operations. I did not hear any colleagues complain about losing money. There was concern about practice viability and how they were going to pay staff without having to lay them off. I did hear a lot of frustration at being sidelined, having nothing to do, and not being able to take care of their patients. The medical shutdown of spring 2020 was a disastrous mistake and overreaction. Those who made these bad decisions will never acknowledge it.

NEW: The F.D.A. refused to accept an application from Moderna for its mRNA flu vaccine. Its reason: The agency did not think Moderna compared the new vaccine to one of the best flu shots available. The company spent $750M+ on a 41,000 person study. nytimes.com/2026/02/10/hea…