The CDC Foundation has announced grants totaling more than $30 million to community-based organizations across the U.S. to promote COVID-19 vaccination and reduce the disease's burden.

Funded by the CDC Foundation as well as the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Google.org, Prologis, and other groups, grants were awarded to more than a hundred and fifty organizations based in communities most impacted by COVID-19 in support of efforts to advance health equity by engaging with local partners, including state and local health departments, to address vaccine-related concerns, develop innovative and culturally appropriate communications strategies, and promote timely vaccination both for the coronavirus and the seasonal influenza virus. Supported efforts include developing vaccine resources, hosting community events, engaging in neighborhood-level outreach, and managing local communication campaigns.

Recipients include the Wellness Coalition (Montgomery, Alabama), El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center (San Bernadino, California), Out Boulder County (Colorado), Friends of Refugees (Clarkston, Georgia), Idaho Immunization Coalition, Illinois Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, Heart to Heart International (Lenexa, Kansas), Chelsea Collaborative, Inc. (Massachusetts), Coalition of Asian American Leaders (St. Paul, Minnesota), Migrant Farmworkers Assistance Fund (Kansas City, Missouri), Camden Coalition of Healthcare Providers (New Jersey), Housing Works, Inc. (New York), Beacon Charitable Pharmacy (Canton, Ohio), Korean Community Service Center of Greater Washington (Annandale, Virginia), the American Indian Health Commission for Washington State (Sequim), and ProHealth Care Foundation (Wisconsin).

"Advancing health equity has been our north star throughout the pandemic response and ensuring all our communities have access to the COVID-19 vaccines, and resources to make an informed decision to vaccinate, is both our priority and our collective responsibility," said Lauren Smith, the CDC Foundation's chief healthy equity and strategy officer. "We must do all we can to promote vaccination with a particular urgency and focus on communities that have been the most impacted."

For a complete list of grant recipients, see the CDC Foundation website.

(Photo credit: Gettyimages / Mongkolchon Akesin)