VA Governor Recognizes Medical Reserve Corps For Voluneer Work During Pandemic

VIRGINIA — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam honored the thousands of trained members of the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps who have volunteered to assist with testing and vaccinating Virginians since the start of the pandemic.

The governor issued a proclamation last week recognizing the “superb efforts” of volunteers, whose efforts are coordinated by the Virginia Department of Health.

The efforts of the Virginia Medical Reserve Corps have been critical to the state’s COVID-19 response, working alongside staff of local health departments in vaccination, testing and contact tracing,

The Virginia Medical Reserve Corps program was established in 2002 to support the Virginia Department of Health with public health emergencies. Volunteers are trained in emergency management, mental health preparedness, disease investigation, CPR and bioterrorism response. Many are licensed health care providers.

In April 2020, Northam issued a call for volunteers to assist with the COVID-19 response. In last week’s proclamation, Northam noted that between January 2020 and November 2021 more than 17,600 Virginians volunteered to serve as new Virginia MRC volunteers.

“Virginia could not have successfully responded to the pandemic without the support of Virginia Medical Reserve Corps volunteers,” the governor’s proclamation states.

Throughout the pandemic response, Virginia Medical Reserve Corps volunteers completed more than 72,400 hours of training. Overall, Medical Reserve Corps volunteers logged a total of 673,777 hours in support of the state’s COVID-19 response. The estimated monetary value of that service is more than $21 million.

The Virginia Medical Reserve Corps launched its largest ever mobilization of volunteers to supplement public health response to the pandemic and support more than 80 public and private health care facilities around the state.

“Our volunteer mass vaccination workforce enabled Virginia to become a leader among southeastern states in vaccinating adults with at least one dose,” Jennifer Freeland, assistant state volunteer coordinator for the VDH, said in a statement.

The 22 Virginia Medical Reserve Corps units across the state are made up of medical and non-medical volunteers. The units participate in emergency and non-emergency public health activities. Virginians 18 years and older can apply to be a volunteer member of the Medical Reserve Corp.

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