LOS ANGELES (CNS) - L.A. Care, the nation's largest publicly operated health plan, announced today that it has awarded nearly $2 million in grants to increase the number COVID-19 vaccinations in communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic and have the lowest vaccination rates.
Through the Robert E. Tranquada Safety Net Initiative XII, 26 community-based safety net clinics across Los Angeles County will each receive $75,000 grants to conduct vaccination projects with an expectation that together they can get more than 190,000 doses into arms. The clinics will be operating at more than 70 sites in low-income communities of color.
"With the number of people getting vaccinated now on the decline, it is more important than ever to get the vaccines directly into the communities where our members live and that's where these clinics are," said John Baackes, L.A. Care CEO. "This funding will support the hiring and training of staff needed to ensure we can get as many people vaccinated as possible."
The funding will also support the acquisition of equipment to set up temporary vaccination hubs, including mobile vaccination units.