The Last Supper, A Lesson In Leadership

 Perhaps the greatest example of leadership comes to us from the story of the Last Supper. 

He got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. When he has finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” He asked them. “You call me ‘Teacher” and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for it is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you should wash one another’s feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them”

He gave us this example on the very night one of them would betray him, a betrayal he predicted. That betrayal did not diminish the lesson, in fact, it amplified it. “Nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.”  The role of a leader is not to be lifted up and glorified, it is to carry a message to those who will listen. And, it is to serve, not be served.

Corona Virus Update

 From Connecticut DPH

Key messages & updates
• As of Sunday night 3/14/21
, 1,379,497 doses of vaccine had been administered, including
918,741 first doses.
• 40% of individuals between 55-64 have received at least one dose of vaccine while
over 70% of individuals between 65-74 have received at least one dose of vaccine.
• With the 55-64 age cohort approaching 50% with a first dose of vaccine and increasing
supplies of vaccine from the federal government, Connecticut will open up vaccine scheduling to individuals 45 years of age and older starting on Friday, March 19th, several days ahead of schedule.
• In addition, the final two age groups, 35-44 and 16-34, will be combined into one group, with scheduling anticipated to start for the 16+ group on April 5th. This means
vaccine will be available to all Connecticut residents over the age of 16 about a month earlier than previously estimated.
• DPH will work with providers and the Department of Developmental Services
to prioritize vaccine access for the most medically high-risk individuals under 45 during the month of April.
• CT has three effective vaccines available. DPH does not recommend shopping around for a vaccine brand, which could cause delays in getting vaccinated. The best shot for people to get is the one that is available to them.
• All three vaccines are highly effective in preventing serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID. The vaccines also have comparable safety profiles.
• The J&J vaccine has the added benefit in that it is a single shot.
• Side effects from the J&J vaccine are similar to those reported for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines: pain at injection site, fever, headache, muscle aches, nausea,
fatigue.
• While not experienced by everyone, side effects for all three vaccines are a normal sign
that the body is building protections against the COVID-19 virus
• It remains important for everyone, even those who are fully vaccinated, to continue to
wear masks, social distance, practice good hand hygiene, stay home when sick, and get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19.

Corona Virus Update 3/10/21

Connecticut’s hospitalizations dropped to below 400 the other day and our % positive remains low, between 1-2%.  We have vaccinated about 30% of Connecticut adults with at least their first dose. The Northeast District Department of Health now has 2 teams of Medical Reserve Corps volunteers and we are vaccinating at our standing clinic in Brooklyn as well as in area schools.   

Key messages & updates from the state, 3/8/21

• As of Sunday night, 1,162,682 doses of vaccine had been administered, including

773,280 first doses. (142,067 in the past 7 days)

• 75% of individuals 75+, more than 60% of individuals 65-74, and almost one quarter of individuals between 55-64 have received at least one dose of vaccine.

• CT has three effective vaccines available. DPH does not recommend shopping around foravaccinebrand,whichcouldcausedelaysingettingvaccinated. Thebestshotfor people to get is the one that is available to them.

• CT received a total of ~30,000 doses of J&J vaccine last week. It was distributed across the state and across various vaccine providers and was put into use at clinics across the state last week and over the weekend.

• All three vaccines are highly effective in preventing serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID. The vaccines also have comparable safety profiles.

• The J&J vaccine has the added benefit in that it is a single shot.

• Side effects from the J&J vaccine are similar to those reported for the Pfizer and Modernavaccines: painatinjectionsite,fever,headache,muscleaches,nausea, fatigue.

• While not experienced by everyone, side effects for all three vaccines are a normal sign

that the body is building protections against the COVID-19 virus

• It remains important for everyone, even those who are fully vaccinated, to continue to

wear masks, social distance, practice good hand hygiene, stay home when sick, and get tested if you have symptoms of COVID-19.

Corona Virus update 3/3/21

Our numbers continue to look good, positive test rates between 2-3%. Hospitalizations down to 413 yesterday. Our school staff started getting vaccinated this week.  

Yesterday morning we (Northeast District Department of Health Connecticut Medical Response Team) vaccinated staff at the Sterling Community School 

Glad to see our dedicated educators getting protected, and nice to start in my home town.