Grantees will offer education, clinics, and support in communities with low vaccine uptake, especially during the fall vaccine season

Contact
Simona Combi
Public Relations Manager
571-527-3982
simona.combi@ncoa.org

Arlington, VA (June 26, 2023)—The National Council on Aging (NCOA), the national voice for everyone's right to age well, has finished awarding grants under its Vaccine Uptake Initiative, funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living, bringing the total number of grantees to 180.

The grantees span 38 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. They include senior centers, state and local health departments, and community clinics. They will conduct tailored outreach, host vaccine clinics, and offer transportation and help with scheduling to enable older adults and people with disabilities to get the updated COVID-19 and flu vaccine. The 180 grantees are expected to administer 315,973 COVID-19 and flu vaccines.

“As we gear up for the fall vaccine season, we’re making sure that community-based organizations across the country have the support they need to help older adults and people with disabilities stay healthy with the latest COVID  and flu shot,” said Ramsey Alwin, NCOA president and CEO.

From small nonprofits that focus on underserved ethnic groups and rural areas to large organizations with a wide geographical reach, our grantees are trusted messengers in their communities.”

A full list of grantees is available on NCOA’s website.

Since the pandemic began, over 850,000 people age 65 and over have died from COVID-19, representing 1 in 4 of deaths from the virus. COVID-19 vaccines are effective at protecting people from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, and dying, but:

• Only 43% of older adults have been gotten the updated vaccine, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
• People with disabilities report having difficulties in accessing the COVID-19 vaccine, such as not being able to get to vaccination sites, and those sites not being open at convenient times. As a result, only 39.7% of older adults with disabilities have received the latest COVID-19 vaccine.

Older adults also need to get the specific flu shots recommended by the CDC, which offer them extra protection.

This COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine Uptake Initiative for Older Adults and People with Disabilities Notice of Funding Opportunity (HHS-2023-ACL-AOA-HDRC-0043) is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $50 million with 100% funding by ACL/HHS. The content is that of the author(s) and does not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. government.

About NCOA
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is the national voice for every person’s right to age well. We believe that how we age should not be determined by gender, color, sexuality, income, or ZIP code. Working with thousands of national and local partners, we provide resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy to ensure every person can age with health and financial security. Founded in 1950, we are the oldest national organization focused on older adults. Learn more by following us at @NCOAging.