The VA announced this morning that more than 1,000 employees have volunteered for additional duties to assist in COVID-19 surges in 49 states, including California.
The volunteer efforts are authorized under the VA’s Disaster Emergency Personnel System (DEMPS) program, part of its Fourth Mission to “improve the Nation’s preparedness for response to war, terrorism, national emergencies, and natural disasters.” VA volunteers will assist civilian state and local efforts to counteract recent surges in COVID-19 cases, such as in Southern California where ICU capacity is nearly at capacity.
It is not clear how long VA volunteers will be active outside of their normal duties or if there is any impact on veteran care. However, part of the VA’s fourth mission is to “ensure continued service to veterans.”
The DEMPS program was last activated for four months in 2017 in response to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria. The current volunteer program is the largest ever organized by the VA.
VA COVID-19 Response in California
Thus far, the VA health care system in California has largely been successful in preventing widespread COVID-19 transmission in its facilities.
Earlier this week, the VA began distributing the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to 37 of its healthcare facilities throughout the country, including the Palo Alto and Greater Los Angeles VA Health Care Systems.
VA vaccination efforts have already begun, with long-term care recipients being the first patient group to receive the vaccine. VA health care personnel are also receiving the vaccine as health care workers are most likely to expose others to the virus.
The VA’s current COVID-19 plan is to issue vaccines to all remaining patients in order of risk of infection, risk of severe illness or death, risk of transmission, and risk of decreased capacity to treat patients with the virus.
It also remains unclear when other VA Health Care Systems in California, such as the San Diego VA, will get the vaccine.
Author: Christian Southards
Coming from a family with a proud military background and wanting to contribute his writing skills to a worthy cause, Christian began writing for the California American Legion in August of 2020. His father is a 25-year Army Veteran and his grandfather served in the Navy during Vietnam.