HHS announces health literacy grants to advance equity in COVID-19 safety, vaccination

Cities, counties and other local governments may apply through April 20 for grants to work with community-based organizations to encourage COVID-19 safety and vaccination in vulnerable and underserved populations.

The $250 million initiative — Advancing Health Literacy to Enhance Equitable Community Responses to COVID-19 — expects to fund about 30 urban and 43 rural communities for two years. Recipients will develop and implement a plan to better reach racial, ethnic and other vulnerable populations with COVID-19 public health information and services.

"Information is power, especially the ability to understand and use information to support better health,” said Acting Assistant Secretary for Health Rear Admiral Felicia Collins, M.D. “Whether it helps us understand where to get tested or the benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine, information is a crucial part of keeping families and communities safe. Nowhere is this more important than in communities hit hardest by the pandemic, especially racial and ethnic minority communities and other vulnerable populations."