The Fairfax Medical Reserve Corps
MRC Volunteers Support the Daily Operations of the Fairfax County Health Department        

Fairfax County Health Dept.

The COVID-19 pandemic solidified just how important Fairfax Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers are to local public health when they stepped-up to provide testing, vaccines, and vital health and safety information. The residents of Fairfax County owe them a debt of gratitude.  Since February of 2020, over 1,400 MRC members volunteered more than 65,000 hours at vaccination clinics and testing events, and assisting with outreach, isolation and quarantine efforts, logistical support, and so much more. 

It was their tireless work during the COVID-19 pandemic that earned the Fairfax MRC program the Volunteer Fairfax award for Improving Quality of Life in Fairfax. "The impact of the Fairfax MRC is best represented by the countless lives that volunteers have positively impacted over the past two years and

                                    MRC volunteers with the Fairfax County CareVan at a vaccine event

their hard work that continues to keep our friends, family, and neighbors healthy and safe!" wrote Paula Rosca, Fairfax MRC Program Coordinator. 

"The most poignant moment as a volunteer came after I had been vaccinating for several months, first at the Herndon District Office, then at the Government Center and finally at Inova Stonebridge. I was on duty at Stonebridge when the announcement came out that teenagers could be vaccinated. The very next day, one mother came in with her three teenagers in tow.  I took the mother and we distributed the kids out to nearby tables. I gave her the usual counseling, then completed the injection. As I was filling out her vaccination card, I commended her on bringing in her three teens. She looked at me and said simply, 'They lost their father to Covid last year.' We both has tears in our eyes. As I handed her the completed card, I felt a great sense of purpose as to why I had joined MRC," Phil Beauchene, Vaccinator, MRC.

Since its creation as a response to the 2001 anthrax attacks, the Fairfax Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) has been providing support during public health events. From unexpected emergencies like H1N1, measles, COVID-19, tornadoes, and floods, to training events like emergency preparedness exercises and community outreach, MRC volunteers are on the frontlines of public health. Learn how you can get involved with the MRC. 

Fairfax Medical Reserve Corps
When the big one hits, Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) volunteers may be called on to provide emergency assistance, like staffing medication dispensing sites, shelters or vaccination clinics. You do not have to be a doctor or nurse, or even have a medical background, to become a volunteer with the MRC. Any skill you bring to our program is critical in an emergency response, and we can use it to assist our communities in times of need.

Whether assisting the Health Department with its daily operations, providing community outreach and support in the community flu clinics, participating in MRC exercises and training opportunities, or responding to emergencies, Fairfax MRC volunteers have invested countless hours in promoting health in the community and ensuring that families are safer and better prepared for emergencies in Fairfax County. Get a glimpse into our program and the wonderful people who make up the team.

Since its creation as a response to the 2001 anthrax attacks, the Fairfax Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) has been providing support during public health events. From unexpected emergencies like H1N1, measles, COVID-19, tornadoes, and floods, to training events like emergency preparedness exercises and community outreach, MRC volunteers are on the frontlines of public health in coordination with the Fairfax County Health Department.

The Fairfax Medical Reserve Corp. is part of the larger Virginia Medical Reserve Corps (MRC )  which too is a force of dedicated volunteers who stand ready to support the community in the event of a public health emergency.  Each of the 22 local MRC units across Virginia are comprised of teams of medical and public health professionals who, along with interested non-medical community members, volunteer their skills, expertise and time to support ongoing public health initiatives and health emergencies throughout Virginia. In the wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks, thousands of Americans volunteered their skills and talents to assist the community. Many more asked, “What can I do to help?”  The MRC was established in 2002 as a national network of volunteers, organized locally to improve the health and safety of their communities.

A Dedicated Force of Volunteers
Each MRC unit is a local program built on the concept that communities can improve their overall health and preparedness by organizing volunteer resources from within. The purpose of MRC units is to:

• Recruit health care professionals and volunteers in supporting roles.
• Create a framework to match volunteers’ skills to address community needs.
• Train volunteers to respond effectively to local emergencies.
• Provide reserve capacity to respond to local, state and national public health needs.

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