The Dutchess County Board of Health hosted its annual Public Health Partnership Award Celebration this morning at Christos in Poughkeepsie. The 2010 Public Health Partnership Award was presented to the Medical Reserve Corps of Dutchess County.

The Public Health Partnership Award is designed to provide recognition and appreciation during National Public Health Week for contributions to the health of the community, reflecting the spirit of creating healthy communities, and to increase public awareness of the role and contribution of partners who demonstrate leadership, innovation, and community involvement.

The Medical Reserve Corps of Dutchess County was recognized for their assistance with the 2009 H1N1 Influenza Mass Vaccination Clinics. Established in 2002, the Medical Reserve Corps provides backup to medical professionals who respond to disasters ranging from floods and fires to the H1N1 flu pandemic. More than one hundred MRC volunteers provided their time and expertise to assist with the inoculation of
thousands of residents. Volunteers manned inoculation clinics, fielded phone calls, and processed paperwork.

The challenges of the 2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic brought a unique opportunity for Dutchess County to test its preparedness plans. The countless hours of planning, meeting, and educating the public culminated in the distribution of H1N1 vaccine, both by medical providers throughout the community and in several Mass Vaccination clinics organized by the Department of Health. Today’s celebration was designed to recognize those efforts and say thank you.

The Public Health Partnership Award Celebration was sponsored by Dutchess County Medical Society.  For more information on Medical Reserve Corps or Public Health Week, visit http://www.dutchessny.gov.

Photo and past Public Health Partnership Award recipients are attached.