LANSING–The Michigan Primary Care Association, in collaboration with the Michigan Association of Local Public Health, is pleased to announce receiving a $500,000 grant each from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund that will be earmarked to its members in support of COVID-19 vaccine administration.
“We are thankful to the Michigan Health Endowment Fund for receiving this much-needed grant to support health centers and community-based organizations through partnership applications to support COVID-19 vaccine administration in communities,” stated MPCA grant program officer Amber Desgranges. “We are delighted to align ourselves with a like-minded organization in MALPH dedicated to a mission of helping its members. More importantly, our patients will ultimately benefit from this grant.”
The Michigan Health Endowment Fund works to improve the health and wellness of Michigan residents, and reduce the cost of healthcare, with a special focus on children and seniors. You can find more information about the Health Fund at mihealthfund.org.
The priority for this funding is to support health centers and/or health departments in increasing COVID 19 vaccine administration capacity through the support of community-based organizations. This funding is intended to help reach and administer COVID-19 vaccines to vulnerable populations, by emphasizing available resources and helping patients overcome barriers they may be facing.
“Many community-based partner organizations have been tremendously helpful throughout this pandemic. In addition to providing the valuable services they have always provided, they have gone the extra mile to assist people in scheduling and attending vaccine appointments”, said Norm Hess, executive director of MALPH. “This has strained their current resources and we are grateful we can provide this funding to help them continue their important work.”
Since April, everyone over the age of 16 in Michigan has been eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine. However, the State is behind in its goal to reach vaccinating 70 percent of the population by early summer; due to vaccine availability, vaccine hesitancy, and other barriers will prevent many people from receiving a vaccine.
According to the CDC, a majority of states are experiencing disparities in getting the COVID-19 vaccine to vulnerable communities. The State is proactively pursuing an equitable vaccination strategy. For example, in early March MDHHS awarded more than 35,000 vaccine doses to 22 community outreach pilot sites, each of which has the capacity to store, schedule, and administer the vaccine.
The Health Fund stated, “Your ability to get a vaccine should not be impacted by whether you are in a rural or urban part of the state, are lower income, are living with a disability, are not fluent in English, or don’t have access to a car, a computer or the Internet.”
Twelve MPCA community health centers and MALPH community-based organizations each that have received Health Fund monies will partner with a local CBO or health department to integrate the city or town in getting “shots in arms” to help achieve more vaccinations.
Some of the activities that will be conducted include: Community-based organization will work with the health center and/or health department to conduct COVID-19 vaccine outreach; lend staff capacity to assist with vaccine administration and/or vaccine events; provide volunteer coordination for the health center and/or health department; provide logistical support to health center and/or health department; and lend their space to the health center and/or health department for events. Also, they will assist community members with scheduling COVID-19 vaccine appointments and in overcoming barriers to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine.
These funds will be released by June 1.
About MPCA and MALPH
The Michigan Primary Care Association (MPCA) is the voice of 43 community health centers that provide primary and preventive health care to more than 725,000 patients in rural and urban communities across Michigan. MPCA advocates to influence and advance health policy and offers operational support and training to health centers to enhance the delivery of services in Michigan communities.
The Michigan Association for Local Public Health (MALPH) exists to strengthen Michigan’s system of local public health departments and local governing boards for Michigan’s 45 city, county and district health departments.