LIBERTY – The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has approved Sullivan County’s application to form an official Medical Reserve Corps. (MRC).
The Medical Reserve Corps program was established to provide a way to recruit, train, and activate medical and public health professionals and other volunteers to respond to community health needs during disasters and other public health emergencies.
The Sullivan County MRC will continue doing what its volunteers have already been doing “unofficially,” assisting at COVID-19 vaccination clinics, delivering supplies where needed, and providing critical education to the public, said County Public Health Services Director Nancy McGraw.
As the end of this summer, 354 volunteers with Public Health Services had given 11,653 volunteer hours, mostly at 49 community COVID-19 vaccination clinics. Some handled paperwork, others directed participants to the correct location, and those licensed as LPNs, EMTs, RNs or MDs took on medical duties, including administering vaccines.
“They were incredibly helpful during the entire extent of the crisis, and we will continue to rely on them to step up to the plate anytime and anywhere they’re needed as we roll out booster doses and as COVID-19 vaccines ae approved for children five to 11 years old.,” said McGraw. “In addition, we will be reaching out to current MRC members soon to develop additional trainings and MRC volunteer opportunities for area residents.”
For more information or to join the MRC, visit https://sullivanny.us/Departments/Publichealth/clinicvolunteer or email VolunteteerMRC@sullivany.us.
