Dothan, AL – According to the officials, this grant was part of a $2.25 billion effort by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to reduce COVID health disparities, improve testing and contact tracing among high-risk or underserved populations, such as minority and rural communities, and improve state and local health departments’ ability to fight COVID.
Our state will receive $40,452,096 over two years.
The Alabama Department of Public Health fill focus its application on improving data collection and reporting for populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19.
That includes testing, community health centers, boosting telehealth systems, and improving the state’s ability to monitor data relating to the pandemic. Some of the funds will also be used to remove barriers to vaccinations and to improve vaccination rates, Landers said.
The CDC awarded funds to all 50 states and several local or county public health agencies, but Alabama received the third highest total amount, with only Mississippi and Oklahoma receiving more.
The lowest state grant went to Connecticut, which received $17.4 million.
