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“Freaking miracle.” That’s how health journalist Helen Branswell recently described the vaccines that have saved millions of lives in the coronavirus pandemic. The vaccines, offered to the U.S. population, have proved to be 90 percent effective against infection. Ready within a year of the outbreak, they have proved to be safe. And they are widely available and free. There is no parallel in modern times. (2/22)

Mandates are lifting. Employers are calling us back to offices. And even some of the strictest and most vigilant among us have decided that enough is enough. Americans are moving on from COVID-19, and I can’t fault them for it if I'm being honest. It has been a horrible two years as we watched this pandemic pillage the world of life and common sense. And while I will be one of the last to take off my mask and get near people again, I understand why many of you are rushing back to “normal.” (Louie Villalobos, 2/22)

As physician Joseph A. Ladapo nears a final Florida Senate vote in his confirmation as state surgeon general, you can’t help but wonder why anyone would take the job. Not after what happened to the last guy. The former titleholder, Scott A. Rivkees, all but vanished after reportedly being hustled out of a public meeting about the coronavirus in April 2020 by the communications director of Florida’s Republican governor, Ron DeSantis. (Lizette Alvarez, 2/22)