This month's cover photo features a newly opened bud on a cherry plum tree in AJN senior editor Corinne McSpedon's front yard. "I took the photo last spring, during the initial COVID crisis in New York, when signs of spring were particularly welcome," she says. "The tree blooms brilliantly for a few days in early spring."
We wanted our April cover to reflect the feeling of hope that's emerged with the increasing availability of COVID-19 vaccines. There is unquestionably a long road to the pandemic's end-and to recovery from its devastating consequences. But as more people become vaccinated every day, we have reason for cautious optimism. Read the April editorial, "A Most Welcome Spring," for editor-in-chief Shawn Kennedy's thoughts on what lies ahead.
In a recent AJN blog post, "Joy, Relief, Reverence: Positive Side Effects of a First COVID-19 Vaccination" (https://wp.me/p7sy0l-7S5), public health nurse and media strategist Barbara Glickstein described her emotions upon receiving her first vaccine dose. "When asked how I felt, I started to cry," she writes. "They were tears of relief mixed with sadness for the deaths of 500,000 people from COVID-19. The woman confirming my information cried with me and told me she understood."-Diane Szulecki, editor