Staff Contact: Andrew Wheeler
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced two funding opportunities to increase the number of COVID-19 vaccinations. As part of the American Rescue Plan, HHS is making available “$250 million to develop and support community-based workforce who will serve as trusted voices sharing information about vaccines, increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence, and address any barriers to vaccination for individuals living in vulnerable and medically underserved communities.” The funds will be used to hire and mobilize community outreach workers, community health workers and social support specialists.
HHS also is making available $1 billion “to strengthen COVID-19 response efforts and increase vaccinations in rural communities.” HHS is providing $460 million to more than 4,600 rural health clinics to maintain and increase COVID-19 testing and to mitigate the spread of the virus in ways tailored to their local communities. HHS is providing $398 million to existing grantees of the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program to work with approximately 1,730 small rural hospitals on COVID-19 testing and mitigation. Additionally, $100 million is being made available in grants to eligible RHCs to address health equity gaps in areas where COVID-19 vaccinations lag in comparison to more populated areas.