Bridgeport, CT – Emergency Operations Center Director Appleby administered the “Loyalty Oath” for ten new Medical Reserve Corps volunteers this week.  Immediately following the ceremony, the sworn-in members began assisting the Department of Health at the “mass vaccination clinic” hosted at Central High School on Wednesday where 200 vaccines were administered to eligible, registered individuals.

 

Director Appleby stated, “I’m proud of the MRC volunteers that have been sworn in along with existing Bridgeport volunteers who have stepped up and are joining our community response to the COVID-19 pandemic.  With the additional boots on the ground, we will be able to continue to expand our outreach along with availability of vaccines to protect the health of our community.”



Today, the Central High School vaccination clinic was staffed by a total of fourteen Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers, five Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteers, as well as the Bridgeport Health Department and clinical staff who were responsible for administering the actual vaccines.  The joint effort resulted in the well-organized process for individuals to attend the site and participate in the distribution of two-hundred vaccines.   Eligible individuals who received the vaccine are Phase 1a and 1b, which includes persons 75+ that registered for an appointment through the Vaccine Administration Management System (VAMS). 

 

Regional Emergency Management Coordinator for CT Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, Robert Kenney, Jr. stated, “As the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic continues to have a significant impact on our public health and healthcare systems, as well as our State and municipal government emergency services, we cannot overstate the importance of community volunteers that have also answered the call.  Two groups that have been extremely active are Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and Medical Reserve Corps (MRC).   Within the 14 municipalities that make up CT DEMHS Region 1, there exists 10 local CERT teams and 6 local MRC units. These teams fall under the control of local emergency management, and in the case of the MRC, the local public health director.  Since the beginning of the pandemic in March of 2020, these teams have collectively been activated over 150 times, representing thousands of volunteer hours.  Their members have supported multiple missions at the local level, to include call taking, EOC operations, assisting with testing sites, food deliveries, and many other assignments as determined by the local municipality.  Many thanks to the members of these teams for the countless hours they are providing during this pandemic.”

 

The Bridgeport MRC unit is recognized as part of the White House’s USA Freedom Corps initiative and the Department of Homeland Security’s Citizen Corps. One of the primary goals of the Bridgeport MRC is to recruit medical and non-medical volunteers with various skills to assist the health department during public health emergencies and times of community need.

 

Individuals that are interested in becoming a Bridgeport Medical Reserve Corps volunteer may visit bridgeportct.gov/Volunteer.

VIDEO: BRIDGEPORT MRC’s ACTIVATED https://fb.watch/3aOMY7sObY/