2,900 Healthcare deaths

 As we end this year, this report from Kaiser Health News, shows over 2,900 healthcare workers have died from #covid19 in the US this year. It details the role that the lack of adequate PPE has played. 

2020 was the Year of the Nurse, but there was no celebrating for our frontline healthcare workers. 

They don’t want accalades, they don’t want to be heroes. They want to help people and then go home safely to their families. Oh, and they’d like to be able to do that at the end of their scheduled shift, not after yet another mandated 16 hour shift, due to chronic understaffing. 

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/more-than-2900-health-care-workers-died-this-year-and-the-government-barely-kept-track?fbclid=IwAR03U9Q-bSrl9JMWjlYGs3Bb_p9FNVho_HiJbuLokcsXziliCfymB7VUWSI

Corona Virus Update 12/23

 Hospitalizations remain stable, 1,155 statewide. Positive test rate today was 6.1%, also stable. We’ve lost 5,735 CT residents to Covid. 

Vaccinations have begun, with healthcare workers going first, leading the fight against this pandemic as they have all year. I’m including pics of 2 Presidents, Sherri Dayton and Heather Howlett rolling up their sleeves. We’ve also posted on FB and Twitter. Please keep these pictures coming. 

I’m also including a vacination update which I’ll share as I get them on the Vaccine Advisory Subcommittee, and some info on phase 1a. 

I also want to congratulate and celebrate Dr Miguel Cardona, who was selected by President elect Biden to be our next Secretary of Education. Dr Cardona was previously a 4th grade teacher and AFT CT member in Meridian. 

On behalf of Jan, David and the AFT CT Executive Committee I want to thank you all for everything you did this year. It’s been a tough one! Happy Holidays and Happy New Year. 

John

Rolling up my sleeve

 To vaccinate or not to vaccinate, that is the question.

The first thing I want to say is that when the vaccine is offered to me, I will roll up my sleeve and get in line.

However, it is a question I have been getting asked by reporters and a question I have been discussing with Healthcare members in Connecticut and around the country, and a question we have been discussing on the Governor’s communications vaccine subcommittee.

There are concerns in the public and within the healthcare community about when one should get the vaccine. These concerns are understandable and must be validated and addressed. The reasons are many, from historical distrust by communities of color who have been victims of government experiments to the speed of the vaccine development.

I understand these concerns and it will take time for all people to feel comfortable and we should give them this time.

I believe it is vital that trusted members of communities, such as healthcare professionals, pastors, union leaders and others, who feel ready to be vaccinated, be willing to do so in a public way. I believe that this will help others become ready (in their own time) for the vaccine.

I also believe that when the public sees doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers being vaccinated, they will feel more comfortable. 

These heroes have seen the worst of the pandemic.

For months upon months they have dealt with the daily death and destruction, they have held hands when family could not be present. 

They have become ill themselves and brought it home to their families.

It has taken an enormous toll on them.

As a retired nurse and a healthcare union leader, my responsibility is to do everything I can to help them, and not ask them to do something I will not do.

So, I will roll up my sleeve and receive my vacination as soon as it is made available to me, hoping for an eventual end to this pandemic.

Be well.

Corona Virus update 12/5

 Our numbers are “mixed”, I guess, this week.

Hospitalizations across CT are up to 1,150. However, that is a slight drop from earlier this week.

Positive test rates yesterday were 5.5%, not good, but better than the 7.1% and 6.5% of the previous 2 days. 

Close monitoring of the numbers will be important.

After several discussions with AFT CT local leaders about the strain the pandemic is taking on our healthcare workers, we’ve decided to have a zoom social hour for healthcare local presidents on Wednesday night. 

Our Local Leaders often hold down a full time job as Healthcare Professionals AND lead their unions in addition to that. It is a workload and pressure that perhaps only they can appreciate.

It’s been a long time since we could be together and just vent about our common frustrations and issues that we share as healthcare leaders. We won’t solve the worlds problems, but at least we can be together in fellowship with others who understand. 

I also want to share an event being put on by our Rockville locals. I hope you can support them.