Key Takeaways

While lifesaving vaccines are available, research shows COVID vaccine uptake has slowed among older adults. To help promote COVID and flu vaccinations, NCOA received $50 million in federal funding from the U.S. Administration for Community Living to enlist its national network of senior centers and community-based organizations. The goal: Make it as easy as possible for older adults and people with disabilities to get their shots and protect their health.

"The grantees serve diverse racial and ethnic populations in both metropolitan and rural areas, helping us ensure that no one is left behind," said NCOA President and CEO Ramsey Alwin in a Jan. 26 press release

The community-based organizations helping older adults get vaccinated

To date, the following community-based organizations have received grants to focus on specific hard-to-reach populations. Those are:

Community-Based Organization Location
Abrazar, Inc. CA
ACLAMO PA
AGE+US dba AGE+ OR
Alexandria Health Department VA
Alivio Medical Center IL
Alma Family Services CA
Arapahoe County Public Health CO
Asian American Health Coalition of the Greater Houston Area dba HOPE TX
Asian Health Coalition IL
Baldwin Senior Center -Town of Stratford CT CT
Banner Health Foundation AZ
Bay Area Community Health CA
Berkshire Regional Planning Commission MA
Boat People SOS VA
Brownwood-Brown County Health Department TX
Butler County Department on Aging KS
CAPI USA MN
Capitol Hill Village DC
Caring People Alliance PA
Catholic Charities of Long Island NY
Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada NV
Catholic Charities of Oregon OR
Catholic Charities of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Syracuse NY (dba Catholic Charities of Ononda... NY
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Trenton NJ
Catholic Family & Community Services NJ
Cenla Community Action Committee, Inc. LA
Center for Multicultural Wellness and Prevention FL
Center for Southeast Asians RI
Chinatown Services Center CA
Chinese-American Planning Council (CPC) NY
Chinese Culture and Community Service Center, Inc. (CCACC) MD
City of Albuquerque NM
City of Fitchburg Health Department MA
City of Independence Health and Animal Services MO
City of Sheboygan - Senior Services WI
Clay County Public Health Center MO
Community Action Committee of Pike County OH
Community Action Partnership of Strafford County NH
Community for Positive Aging (CFPA) OR
Community Health Connections Inc. MA
Council of People's Organization, Inc. NY
Dallas County TX
Dallas County Health & Human Services TX
Duluth Aging Support MN
East Shore District Health Dept. CT
Easterseals DC MD VA MD
El Sol Neighborhood Educational Center (El Sol) CA
Family and Child Empowerment Services - San Francisco (FACES - SF) CA
Family Christian Health Center IL
Find Aid for the Aged, Inc. d.b.a. Project FIND NY
FIRM, Inc (Fresno Interdenominational Refugee Ministries) CA
Franklin County Senior Services IL
Gay Elders of Metro Detroit aka Michigan LGBTQ+ Elders Network MI
Hamilton Township Division of Health NJ
Healy Senior Center CA
Heart of America Indian Center d/ba/ Kansas City Indian Center MO
Henry Ford Health/Greenfield Health Systems MI
Hmong American Friendship Association WI
HOPE Community Action Partnership Inc. NJ
Horizons, A Famiily Service Alliance IA
Immunize Colorado CO
Immunize Nevada NV
India Home NY
Indian American Community Services (IACS) WA
Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley CA
Indianhead Community Action Agency WI
International Community Health Services  WA
Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. MD
Iris House A Center for Women Living with HIV, Inc. NJ
Jefferson Center for Mental Health CO
Jewish Family and Children's Services of Greater Philadelphia PA
Kansas City Shepherds Center MO
Knoxville-Knox County Community Action Committee Office on Aging TN
Korean Women's Association WA
La Raza Services, Inc. dba Servicios de La Raza CO
LECOM Senior Living Center PA
Lifescape Community Services IL
Los Angeles LGBT Center CA
Lower Rio Grande Valley Community Health Management Corporation, Inc. dba El Milagro Clinic TX
Macon County Senior Services NC
Madonna Center, Inc. TX
Mattie Rhodes Center MO
Mazzoni Center PA
McDowell County Commission on Aging WV
Meals on Wheels, Greater San Diego, Inc., dba Meals on Wheels San Diego County CA
Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula CA
Mercy Health CA
Mercy Housing Northwest WA
Mill Neck Services NY
N.E.W. Community Clinic WI
Nathan Adelson Hospice NV
National Alliance for Hispanic Health DC
Nevada Senior Services Inc NV
Nine Health Services, dba 365 Health CO
O'Neill Senior Center, Inc. OH
One Community Health OR
One in Long Beach, Inc., dba The LGBTQ Center Long Beach CA
ONEgeneration CA
Oneida County Health Department WI
Osceola Council on Aging FL
Pacific Islander Community Association of Washington WA
Parker Jewish Institute for Health Care and Rehabilitation NY
Pathlights IL
Pointters Community Initiatives WI
Princeton Senior Resources Center NJ
Proyecto Juan Diego Inc TX
Rebalanced Life Wellness Association WI
Regents of the University of Michigan - Community Health Services MI
Rockville Senior Center MD
Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey NJ
SAGE, Adovocacy and Services for LGBTQ Elders NY
Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County (Montco SAAC) PA
Salem Health Department MA
Senior Citizens Services, Inc. dba Via Health, Fitness and Enrichment Center AL
Senior Citizens, Inc. dba FiftyForward TN
Senior Coastsiders, Inc. CA
Senior Friendship Centers FL
Senior Solutions SC
Silver Sage TX
Southern Alabama AHEC AL
Southwest Louisiana Area Health Education Center LA
St. Vincent De Paul Archdiocesan Council of New Orleans LA
Sunset Park Health Council, Inc dba Family Health Centers at NYU Langone NY
SWCAP WI
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department WA
Tampa General Hospital and GRACE Community Medical Center FL
Tennessee Justice Center TN
The Center for Popular Democracy NY
The Community Clinic of Southwest Missouri MO
The Kansas City Metropolitan Lutheran Ministry MO
The Life Center of Davidson County NC
The Nashville Food Project TN
The Visiting Nurse Association of Texas (VNA) TX
Thomas Jefferson University, a Pennsylvanian non profit corporation PA
Town of Newington Senior and Disabled Center CT
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio TX
Variety Care Inc. OK
Vida Senior Centers DC
Village to Village Network MO
Vision y Compromiso CA
WAVES AHEAD CORP. PR
West Allis Senior Center WI
WNC Health Network NC
YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles CA
Young Men and Women's Hebrew Association & Irene Kaufmann Center PA
Young Women's Christian Association of San Antonio TX

Vaccine success story ahead: Alma Family Services

“Thank you for this program...,” said Maria Aria, 69. "It’s great, because it motivates us to come.” 

Ms. Aria is among the first beneficiaries of NCOA’s Vaccine Uptake Initiative. Along with dozens of others, she attended an event organized by Alma Family Services in East LA on Feb. 24 and reports that her shot “didn’t hurt!”

"We are greatful for the dedicated Alma staff and volunteers, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and the National Council on Aging for the amazing support to our first East LA Covid-19 Vaccination Clinic of 2023," the organization said in Feb. 27 post on Facebook. "We look forward to continue this partnership towards connecting individuals of all ages to tangible preventive resources."

This COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine Uptake Initiative for Older Adults and People with Disabilities Notice of Funding Opportunity (HHS-2023-ACL-AOA-HDRC-0043) is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $50 million with 100% funding by ACL/HHS. The content is that of the author(s) and does not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the U.S. government.