With recent polling showing that some people in the U.S. who remain unvaccinated need help to take the final step toward vaccination, Colorado funders today announced additional support for on-the-ground efforts in communities across the state to increase COVID-19 vaccination levels and to ensure equitable access to the vaccination. The 39 additional community-based organizations receiving grants are using an array of personalized approaches to answer questions, increase understanding about COVID-19 and the vaccine, and make it easy for more Coloradans to get vaccinated. Personalized outreach efforts to underserved communities and communities of color include door-to-door canvassing, engaging promotoras, providing translation and transportation, and having a presence in trusted community spaces such as churches.
The $1.7 million in funding builds on a first round of more than $2.5 million in grants, supporting a total of 88 community-based organizations statewide. The funding is provided by Together We Protect, a partnership of Immunize Colorado, Colorado Vaccine Equity Taskforce, and 14 funders (listed below) that came together to create Colorado’s COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Fund.