COLOMBIA – South Carolina will receive more than $ 47 million from the federal government to increase COVID-19 vaccination rates in the state, with most of the funds directed to minority communities.
At least 75 percent of the money must be spent on initiatives that increase access to vaccines among racial and ethnic minorities. Most of the money must go to local health departments, community organizations or community health centers, according to the April 6 announcement first shared with Post and Courier.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention distributed the funds as part of the $ 1.9 trillion COVID-19 aid package signed by President Joe Biden last month.
Giving examples of how money can be spent, the CDC suggested training residents to go door-to-door in their own communities to educate people about vaccines and help them make appointments, and to hire bilingual health professionals to explain the process. to residents who speak another language.
South Carolina’s minority communities have been more difficult to reach with the vaccine.
For example, despite representing 27% of the state’s population, blacks represent only 17% of South Carolina residents who have received at least one dose of the vaccine so far, according to the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control.
Hispanic residents represent 6% of the state’s population, but represent only 2.5% of South Carolina’s inhabitants who received at least one dose.
CDC director Rochelle Walensky said the federal agency is doing everything it can to expand access to vaccines.
“Millions of Americans are being vaccinated every day, but we need to ensure that we are reaching the communities most affected by this pandemic,” said Walensky. “This investment will support local and state health departments and community-based organizations while working on the front lines to increase access, acceptance and absorption of the vaccine.”
The last installment of federal financial aid came just weeks after the White House announced that 23 community health centers in South Carolina would receive more than $ 95 million in total funding for the COVID-19 aid package.
A new federal community vaccination center, which will be able to administer 7,000 doses per week, is also scheduled to open in Columbia on April 14.
Mary Katherine Wildeman contributed to this Charleston report. Follow Jamie Lovegrove on Twitter @jslovegrove.