NH Delegation Welcomes Nearly $1 Million to NH to Support COVID-19 Vaccinations in Underserved Areas
(Washington, DC) – Today, U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Annie Kuster (NH-02) and Chris Pappas (NH-01) welcomed nearly $1 million to New Hampshire to support COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Specifically, the funding provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will support vaccine education and outreach efforts led by a community-based workforce comprised of trusted community leaders. The funding comes from the American Rescue Plan and is meant to increase vaccine confidence and address barriers to vaccination in underserved and vulnerable communities.
“As we ramp up efforts to vaccinate every corner of New Hampshire, it’s crucial that every family has the support and information they need to make decisions to protect themselves and loved ones,” said Shaheen. “I’m pleased to welcome nearly $1 million to New Hampshire to make sure trusted local leaders have the resources they need to educate families, provide transportation and build confidence to get our communities vaccinated. We can’t turn the page on this crisis without making sure that families in historically underserved and vulnerable areas are cared for, and that’s exactly what this funding does. I’ll continue working in the Senate to ensure New Hampshire has the resources it needs to administer vaccinations, access information to protect our communities and address health disparities.”
“Getting vaccines into arms is a key part of our efforts to control the spread of this deadly virus, save lives, and rebuild an economy where all Granite Staters can thrive,” said Hassan. “I am glad to announce this federal funding to New Hampshire that will strengthen efforts to reach vulnerable communities and help get out the message about the importance of receiving a vaccine.”
“Safe, effective COVID-19 vaccines are key to ending this pandemic, getting students back in classrooms, and putting our economy back on track – but in order to get one step ahead of this virus, we must be able to get enough shots into arms in communities in New Hampshire and across the country,” said Kuster. “I’m pleased the Biden-Harris administration is prioritizing vaccine education and expanding the availability of vaccines as we continue working to recover and rebuild from COVID-19. I look forward to working with the CDC and local organizations to support vaccine education and outreach so we can keep our communities safe and crush this virus once and for all.”
“We all know that continuing to get shots in arms is the quickest and most effective way to fully reopen our economy, return to normal life, and keep Granite Staters safe,” said Pappas. “That is why I am proud to help announce that New Hampshire will be receiving almost $1 million in additional federal support to support our state’s efforts to get people educated, registered, and vaccinated against COVID-19. I will continue to work alongside the delegation to ensure our state receives the tools and resources we need to put this pandemic behind us.”
New Hampshire is set to receive $998,250 to support community-based organizations to hire workers to spearhead outreach, share information and provide social support for vaccination efforts. Workers will help medically-underserved communities make vaccine appointments and schedule transportation. The first of two funding opportunities was released today, and another funding opportunity coming soon will focus on smaller community-based organizations.
Shaheen and Hassan are members of the bipartisan, bicameral group of lawmakers that has steered negotiations of COVID-19 relief, and the delegation worked to secure the passage of the American Rescue Plan to respond to the full scope of this public health and economic emergency. The law includes just over $1.5 billion in funding for New Hampshire through state and local aid. The delegation announced $350.5 million to help schools safely re-open and support students, $20.2 million to help community health centers expand access to vaccines and $40.9 million 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. Shaheen also announced an additional $30.6 million in vaccine administration grants for New Hampshire from the December COVID-19 response package and the American Rescue Plan – which followed her successful push to secure additional vaccine funding for small states, like New Hampshire, which were previously shortchanged through a flawed formula from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
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