Partnering with National Organizations to Increase Vaccination Coverage Across Different Racial and Ethnic Adult Populations Currently Experiencing Disparities

CDC seeks to build the evidence base of effective interventions to improve vaccination coverage and to identify and implement strategies to reduce racial and/or ethnic disparities in adult vaccination coverage. The goal of this NOFO is to support efforts to increase coverage for adults in racial and/or ethnic populations experiencing disparities in vaccination rates. This NOFO would fund: National organizations to build their own infrastructure/capacity for and implement flu vaccination activities this fall and COVID-19 vaccination-related activities, when the latter becomes available and Local branches, chapters, and/or formal, established affiliates of those national organizations to implement vaccination activities at the community level. Resources and learnings from these funded entities would be shared across other local entities within the organization, as appropriate. A branch or chapter of an organization is a local division of the national organization. An affiliate is a local organization with a formal, established relationship with the national organization. National Organizations: Focus Areas During the performance period, the national organization applicant is expected to build and implement infrastructure/capacity for flu and COVID-19 vaccination activities and carry out those activities. This involves the identification of individual(s) within the applicant organization to address the following focus areas: Coordinate local branches, chapters, or affiliates: Coordinate and advise on vaccination activities with local entities; Deploy educational campaign: Develop and implement a vaccination educational campaign targeting adults in racial or ethnic populations experiencing disparities as part of the applicants other communications strategies; and Enhance the resource and evidence base: Collaborate with the Learning Hub, Data Hub, and Media Center to review, modify, and improve resources that can be more broadly shared, as appropriate (see Appendix for additional information). For potential activities for each focus area, please see Focus Area Activities. Local Branches, Chapters, or Affiliates: Focus Areas During the performance period, the applicant is expected to identify and fund local branches, chapters, and/or affiliates to implement flu vaccination activities this fall and COVID-19 vaccination activities, when the latter becomes available. All funded local entities are expected to implement activities in each of the following focus areas: Provide data and insights to CDC detailing barriers to vaccine uptake: Work with communities to identify and address drivers of vaccine hesitancy, influential community messengers and partners, and community-acceptable approaches for improving vaccination availability, accessibility, and acceptability; Equip influential messengers: Educate and empower trusted voices in the community to support vaccine education and delivery; and Increase vaccination opportunities and enhance provider partnership: Build partnerships between vaccination providers (e.g., pharmacies) and the community to increase the number, range, and diversity of opportunities for vaccination. Focus Area Activities Applicant organizations are expected to undertake activities for all focus areas for Component A. Applicant-funded branches, chapters, or affiliates are expected to undertake activities for all focus areas for Component B. Implementation: Implementation will focus on improving flu coverage this season and COVID-19 vaccination coverage (when the latter becomes available) among adults in racial and ethnic groups experiencing disparities. Recipients should execute work in the focus areas described in this section, using and/or adapting a subset of the accompanying activities listed below. They may also enhance or add relevant activities to focus areas, as appropriate. For potential activities for each focus area, please see Focus Area Activities.