BOSTON - Thursday,
April 22, 2021 - Mayor Kim Janey, the Boston Public Health Commission and
the Office of Health and Human Services today announced the awardees of
the Vaccine Equity Grant Initiative, which was launched in March to ensure equitable availability to the
COVID-19 vaccine. A total of $1.5 million has been distributed to 11
organizations working to increase vaccine access and awareness in
communities disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As we continue to
recover from COVID-19, it’s critical that we are intentional about our
efforts to support Bostonians disproportionately impacted by the
pandemic,” said Mayor Janey. “I am proud to award this funding to
community-based organizations committed to expanding access to and
awareness about the COVID-19 vaccine. Thank you for your partnership in
helping our most vulnerable communities.”
Applicants were
charged with developing strategies to enhance and ensure equitable
vaccine access for specific communities, neighborhoods and groups
experiencing higher rates of COVID-19 positivity or to target outreach
for communities facing barriers in obtaining the vaccine. These include
Black/African American, Latinx, Asian, Indigenious, and immigrant communities;
persons with disabilities; individuals over the age of 65; and the
neighborhoods of East Boston, Roxbury, Dorchester, Mattapan, Hyde Park,
Roslindale and Chinatown, where positivity rates have consistently been
higher and vaccination rates have been lower than the citywide
average.
As of April 13,
2021, 168,145 individuals who are 16 years of age or older have been
fully vaccinated in the City of Boston. 47 percent of fully vaccinated
Bostonians are people of color. 16,498 Asian/Pacific Islander residents
are fully vaccinated; 31,243 Black residents are fully vaccinated; 19,073
Latinx residents are fully vaccinated; and 214 American Indian/Alaskan
Native residents are fully vaccinated. In comparison, 81,844 White
residents are fully vaccinated. For more information on vaccination
rates, visit here.
Grantees awarded
have created strategies to engage the community in four ways. Access and
awareness strategies include:
Direct,
in-person outreach: This
will target populations and scheduling individuals for vaccine
appointments.
Public awareness
efforts: This will target
specific populations or neighborhoods to build confidence in vaccines and
their effectiveness.
Wrap around
supports: This will help
to create equitable access to vaccines appointments through methods
including transportation support, interpretation services, companion
programs, dedicated staff to get residents into vaccine
appointments.
Direct clinic
support: This will
include expanded staffing, outreach or on-site services to support access
to vaccines people, including access during non-traditional hours or
located at non-traditional locations.
The grantees of
the Vaccine Equity Grant Initiative are:
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