WASHINGTON, DC, April 4, 2024 — The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO), the voice of the country’s over 3,300 local health departments, with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), has selected an additional 19 local health departments to participate in a third cohort for the Partnering for Vaccine Equity program. The initiative aims to address inequities in COVID-19 and influenza (flu) vaccination coverage among racial and ethnic minority adults.
According to the CDC, fewer than half of adults received a flu vaccine during the 2022-23 season, with continuing disparities in flu vaccine coverage among racial and ethnic groups. With lower flu vaccination rates, adults from racial and ethnic minority groups have higher rates of severe flu illness, morbidity, and mortality compared to non-Hispanic white adults, mirroring similar trends for COVID-19. The awarded funding will allow local health departments to establish key partnerships, collaborate to identify and address barriers to vaccines, and engage community stakeholders and influential messengers to support vaccine messaging. Additionally, the program will provide education and vaccine delivery at the community level and facilitate relationships between vaccine providers and communities.
The awards are part of NACCHO’s broader efforts to support local health departments to improve COVID-19 and flu vaccination coverage. This program plays a vital role in improving the overall health and economic opportunities for historically marginalized groups and advancing health equity in communities. The program will conclude on July 31, 2024.
The Partnering for Vaccine Equity awardees are as follows:
- Adams County Health Department, CO ($150,000)
- Anne Arundel County Department of Health, MD ($150,000)
- Austin Public Health, TX ($150,000)
- Boone County Health Department, IL ($150,000)
- Boone County Health Department, WV ($75,000)
- City of Vernon Department of Health Public Health, CA ($150,000)
- Clackamas County Public Health Division, OR ($150,000)
- Corpus Christi-Nueces County Public Health District, TX ($75,000)
- Coastal Health District, GA ($150,000)
- Franklin Public Health, OH ($150,000)
- Johnson County Public Health, IA ($150,000)
- Lafayette County Health Department, WI ($150,000)
- Lincoln County Public Health, OR ($150,000)
- Long Beach Health Department, CA ($150,000)
- Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, CA ($150,000)
- New Orleans Health Department, LA ($150,000)
- Scotland County Health Department, NC ($75,000)
- Van Buren/Cass District Health Department, MI ($150,000)
- Winnebago County Health Department, IL ($75,000)
In addition to the new cohort of participants, eleven sites from the second cohort of this program were each awarded an additional $25,000. The award will support efforts to continue developing and implementing strategies to advance vaccine equity among racial and ethnic minority populations.
Additional funds have been awarded to:
- Boston Public Health Commission, MA ($25,000)
- City of Fitchburg Health Department, MA ($25,000)
- DC Department of Health, DC ($25,000)
- Greene County Health Department, IL ($25,000)
- Jefferson County Public Health, WA ($25,000)
- Linn County Public Health, IA ($25,000)
- Northeast Texas Public Health District, TX ($25,000)
- Pottawattamie County Division of Public Health, IA ($25,000)
- Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, WA ($25,000)
- The Emergency Health Services Federation, PA ($25,000)
- Warren City Health District, OH ($25,000)
To learn more about the NACCHO Immunization portfolio, please visit our webpage here.
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About NACCHO
The National Association of County and City Health Officials (NACCHO) represents the nation’s over 3,300 local governmental health departments. These city, county, metropolitan, district, and tribal departments work every day to protect and promote health and well-being for all people in their communities. For more information about NACCHO, please visit www.naccho.org.
