Southwest Georgia health care providers receive vaccination funds

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Sanford Bishop's office has announce that eight health care providers across Georgia's Second Congressional District, including Albany Area Primary Health Care, were awarded a total of $2,168,196 through the American Rescue Plan Act by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to improve access to COVID-19 vaccinations.

"As we head into another winter, we are seeing surging cases of the flu, Respiratory Syncytial Virus — more commonly known as RSV — and COVID-19," Bishop said in a news release. "Increasing vaccination rates, which will lower the number of illnesses across the region, reduces the strain on our clinics and hospitals. It also means fewer children, elderly individuals, workers, and business owners will need to risk their education, well-being, or economic opportunities."

HHS is providing funding to Health Resources and Services Administration-supported health centers as a part of a $350 million initiative to increase COVID-19 vaccines in communities, especially underserved populations. Health centers will be encouraged to support mobile, drive-up, walk-up, or community-based vaccination events; extend operating hours, outreach, and off-site vaccination locations to expand opportunities for COVID-19 vaccination; and support access to COVID-19 vaccination by expanding transportation, translation, education, and interpretation services.

Grant recipients include: