Biden administration to invest $250 million in effort to encourage COVID-19 safety and vaccination among underserved populations

The Biden administration announced Monday an initiative to invest $250 million to promote COVID-19 safety and vaccination among underserved populations. The HHS Office of Minority Health will offer the funding as health literacy grants to localities, which will team up with community-based organizations, to reach racial and ethnic minority, rural, and other vulnerable populations. The Advancing Health Literacy to Enhance Equitable Community Responses to COVID-19 initiative will fund about 30 projects in urban communities and 43 in rural areas for 2 years. Cities, counties, parishes or other similar subdivisions may apply for the funding. “Information is power, especially the ability to understand and use information to support better health. Whether it helps us understand where to get tested or the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine, information is a crucial part of keeping families and communities safe,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Health RADM Felicia Collins, MD. “Nowhere is this more important than in communities hit hardest by the pandemic, especially racial and ethnic minority communities and other vulnerable populations.” Applications for the new initiative will be accepted through April 20, 2021.