NH Delegation Announces NH Community Health Centers to Receive More than $20.2 Million through American Rescue Plan to Expand COVID-19 Vaccinations

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) today announced that New Hampshire community health centers are being awarded $20,217,250 to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines. Specifically, the funding is being awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and will help Granite State community health centers increase COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as virus testing and treatment for the populations they serve. It will also help expand their operational capacities both during and after the pandemic. In total, the American Rescue Plan contains $15.05 billion to enhance, expand and bolster the distribution and administration of vaccines. In this first allotment, New Hampshire received $20,217,250.

This funding follows earlier announcements by the delegation of the award of $350 million for Granite State schools through the American Rescue Plan’s $122 billion Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, as well as $40,953,829 to help expand COVID-19 testing in Granite State schools, an initial installment of funding awarded through the new COVID relief law’s $47.8 billion allocated for COVID-19 testing.

“Vaccines are the key to ending this pandemic, reopening our schools and economy and returning a sense of normalcy back to our everyday lives,” said Senator Shaheen. “This funding is a crucial investment that will put us one step closer to the goal of ensuring all Granite Staters are able to get vaccinated, while also supporting our community health centers on the frontlines. These funds are especially important for our rural communities and will provide a necessary boost in assistance, which they urgently need. Securing funding for vaccine distribution and administration was a top priority for me during negotiations of the American Rescue Plan and I’ll continue to fight in the Senate for the resources New Hampshire needs to respond to this crisis.”

“We passed into law the American Rescue Plan so that we could save lives by getting more vaccines into arms – and now we’re seeing this critical funding get directly to our communities,” said Senator Hassan. “Community health centers have always played a vital role in getting all Granite Staters the affordable health care that they need – especially in rural and underserved communities. More than $20 million to New Hampshire community health centers through the American Rescue Plan will make a truly big difference in their work to increase COVID-19 vaccinations and testing – as well as treatment – for the Granite Staters who most need it.”

“Safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines are some of our best tools against this pandemic, but unless we bolster our vaccine infrastructure to get shots into arms efficiently and equitably across our NH communities, we will remain one step behind this virus,” said Representative Kuster. “These federal funds will deliver much-needed support to our Granite State community health centers who have been on the frontlines of this crisis to expand COVID-19 vaccinations, testing, and treatment to protect some of our most vulnerable citizens. I will continue working in Congress and with the Biden-Harris administration to ensure our NH communities have the resources they need to weather this storm.”

“The best way for us to restart our economy, safely reopen our schools, and begin to return to normal is to get more shots in arms,” said Representative Pappas. “That is why passing the American Rescue Plan was so crucial for New Hampshire, and why I’m so pleased to help announce that Granite State community health centers will be receiving more than $20 million to expand COVID-19 vaccinations throughout the state. I remain committed to ensuring that New Hampshire gets all the resources we need and that American Rescue Plan funds arrive as soon as possible.” 

Breakdown of funds to NH community health centers

10 community health centers located throughout New Hampshire will receive $20,217,250 in federal funding from the American Rescue Plan to help expand COVID-19 vaccinations and support operations. The following is a list of grant recipients:

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