The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in partnership with the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC) and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), awarded $2.3 million to 15 health centers in 12 states to support the Community Vaccine Ambassador Project from November 2021 to December 2022. For 2023, 11 health centers have opted to continue the project, adding in additional adult immunizations to distribute, with awards totaling $1.1 million.
VAP originally focused on increasing COVID-19 vaccination rates among people experiencing homelessness, people with substance use disorder, and people who engage in sex work. In the second year of the program not only are Ambassadors still working to vaccinate individuals against COVID-19 but are adding in additional adult immunizations. All three groups are at increased risk for infections and often have experienced barriers to accessing health care.Additional Vaccinations Available:COVID-19 – Hepatitis A – Hepatitis B – HPV – Influenza – Mpox – Pneumonia – Shingles – Tdap – Twinrix – Other
How is the Vaccine Ambassadors Project Implemented?
Hire & Train Vaccine Ambassadors
Vaccine ambassadors are peers with lived experience or stakeholders in local communities.
Outreach to Target Populations
We meet those experiencing homelessness, those with substance use disorder, and those who engage in sex work where they are, whether it is in a waiting room, an encampment, or an emergency room.
Outreach to Target Populations
We meet those experiencing homelessness, those with substance use disorder, and those who engage in sex work where they are, whether it is in a waiting room, an encampment, or an emergency room.
Vaccinate Our Target Populations
Vaccinations can happen anywhere by ambassadors, nurses, and clinical staff. They can take place on the street, at their house, in the clinic, at pop-up sites, parking lots, and medical mobile units.
VAP Community Partnerships
Re-entry programs
Homeless drop-in centers
Shelters
Harm reduction sites
Firehouses
Drug and alcohol treatment centers
Encampments
Access programs
Vaccine Ambassadors Project Organizations
Click on the links below to go to the website of the corresponding organization
Affinia Healthcare, Saint Louis, MO
Camillus Health Concern, Inc. (CHC), Miami, FL
Columbus Neighborhood Health Center, dba PrimaryOne Health (P1H), Columbus, OH
Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Lawrence, MA
JWCH Institute Inc., Los Angeles, CA
LifeSpring, Inc., Jeffersonville, IN
OPTIMUS Health Care, Bridgeport, CT
Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners, Clearwater, FL
Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
The Wright Center for Community Health (TWCCH), Scranton, PA
Yakima Neighborhood Health Services, Yakima, WA
Affinia Healthcare, Saint Louis, MO
Alameda County Health Care for the Homeless, Oakland, CA
Camillus Health Concern, Inc. (CHC), Miami, FL
Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, Denver, CO *
Columbus Neighborhood Health Center, dba PrimaryOne Health (P1H), Columbus, OH
CrescentCare, New Orleans, LA
Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Lawrence, MA
JWCH Institute Inc., Los Angeles, CA
LifeSpring, Inc., Jeffersonville, IN
OPTIMUS Health Care, Bridgeport, CT
Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners, Clearwater, FL
Public Health Management Corporation, Philadelphia, PA
Union Community Health Center, Inc., Bronx, NY
The Wright Center for Community Health (TWCCH), Scranton, PA
This Vaccine Ambassador Project is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $7,000,000 with 100 percent funded by CDC/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CDC/HHS, or the U.S. Government.
Note:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in partnership with the National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC) and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), awarded $2.3 million to 15 health centers in 12 states to support the Community Vaccine Ambassador Project.
Funding and Partners
People experiencing homelessness
Individuals with substance use disorders
Individuals engaged in sex work
In the end, we want to turn challenges into successes:
