Menendez, Booker Announce Nearly $7.5M to Expand COVID Vaccines to Hardest Hit Communities

Source: United States Senator for New Jersey Bob Menendez

JERSEY CITY, N.J. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) today announced a combined $7,427,359 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to increase COVID-19 vaccinations at Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) across the state. FQHCs, also known as community health centers, provide high quality and affordable health care to low and middle income individuals. In New Jersey, over 20 community health centers operate over 130 sites, providing a wide range of health care services to nearly 600,000 New Jerseyans.

 

“When COVID-19 swept through New Jersey, some of our most vulnerable communities were hit the hardest,” said Sen. Menendez, a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee that sets national health policy. “This funding will ensure that low income residents, the elderly, and minority communities have equitable access to the COVID vaccine. This critical investment in community health centers will benefit the health of our neighborhoods, our state, and our nation.”

 

“The best way to put this public health crisis behind us is for everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated and boosted,” said Sen. Booker. “With this critical federal funding, New Jersey will be better equipped to bolster vaccination programs and protect our health and safety. I encourage all New Jerseyans who are eligible to get vaccinated and boosted — these vaccines are safe and effective.”

 

According to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), which administers CHCs, more than 91% of health center patients are individuals or families living at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, and more than 60% are racial or ethnic minorities.

 

The following FQHCs were awarded funding:

 

 

Lakewood Resource and Referral Center, Inc.

$915,025

North Hudson Community Action Corporation

$577,714

Community Health Care, Inc.

$518,656

Southern Jersey Family Medical Centers, Inc.

$485,689

Newark Community Health Centers, Inc.

$468,499

Jewish Renaissance Medical Center

$467,432

Zufall Health Center, Inc.

$421,123

CamCare Health Corporation

$376,060

Rutgers, The State University Of New Jersey

$348,542

Metropolitan Family Health Network Inc.

$345,500

Monmouth Family Health Center

$319,220

Ocean Health Initiatives, Inc.

$300,433

Neighborhood Health Services Corporation

$244,556

Henry J. Austin Health Center, Inc.

$207,850

Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences

$198,916

Paterson Community Health Center Inc.

$186,398

Visiting Nurse Association of Central Jersey Community Health Center

$181,975

The Osborn Family Health Center, Inc.

$168,781

Horizon Health Center, Inc

$157,639

AtlantiCare Health Services, Inc

$140,224

City of Newark

$121,315

The Jewish Renaissance Foundation Inc.

$108,782

Saint James Health, Inc.

$95,107

Project Hope

$71,923