Panhandle Health District
8500 N. Atlas Road Hayden, Idaho 83835
www.phd1.idaho.gov
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Date: September 17, 2009
Contact: Released by: Lora Whalen, Acting Director
Cynthia Taggart
Public Information Officer
(208) 415-5108
(208) 818-7288 (cell)
Volunteers Needed for H1N1 Vaccinations
Hayden—Reaching residents of the five northern counties with the H1N1 influenza vaccine in the next few months will require plenty of volunteer help for the Panhandle Health District (PHD).
September is National Preparedness Month and the perfect time for people eager to help their communities through the pandemic and other public health crises to volunteer with the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC).
MRC volunteers include medical and public health professionals such as nurses, physicians, dentists, veterinarians and epidemiologists. They also include non-medical support staff: teachers, interpreters, legal workers, clerical and anyone with an interest in helping their community.
Vaccinating about 100,000 northern Idaho residents against H1N1 will require people with medical backgrounds as well as interpreters, teachers, office workers, managers, wheelchair pushers, direction guides, snack preparers and more. PHD will coordinate the vaccination effort and dedicate much of its staff to the job. Hundreds of volunteers will help speed and smooth the vaccination process.
The MRC is part of the USA Freedom Corps, a family of volunteer support groups that serves throughout the nation. The MRC unit in northern Idaho is coordinated from the Panhandle Health District. Volunteers receive training and respond to public health emergencies as needed.
Anyone willing to volunteer time and expertise during H1N1 and other public health crises can sign up for the MRC at www.phd1.idaho.gov/publichealth/mrc or call (208) 415-5238.