CDPH Announces $10 Million for KidsVaxGrant to Administer COVID-19 Vaccines for Youth

Today, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) announced it is offering more than $10 million in grant funding through the newly launched KidsVaxGrant in an effort to expand COVID-19 vaccine access for youth throughout the state. The announcement of funding makes health care providers enrolled in the state’s Vaccine for Children (VFC) program eligible to receive funding of up to $25,000 per site to expand operating hours.

According to CDPH, since its inception in 1995, the VFC Program has played an essential role in vaccinating youth by equipping providers with vaccines for children at no additional cost to parents or guardians who may be unable to afford them. The state aims to increase access to the COVID-19 vaccine by recruiting additional providers into the California COVID-19 Vaccination Program and by helping providers expand operating hours to make vaccinations more convenient for families.

Newly enrolled VFC providers that are part of the COVID-19 vaccination program fcould be eligible for $10,000 in KidsVaxGrant funds per site to establish COVID-19 vaccination services. VFC providers already enrolled are also eligible to apply and could be awarded $15,000 grant per site. The deadline for applications is May 27, 2022.

To be considered, providers must expand their operating hours. Expanding the capacity of providers to open their doors beyond normal business hours allows for additional vaccination options for working families. Operating hours must be increased by a maximum of 15 hours outside of the standard operating hours during a 60-day period.

Additional information on the grant opportunity is available here.