Congressman Panetta Announces $1.4 Million in HHS Grants to Expand Local COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts

SALINAS, CA – Today, Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Carmel Valley) announced nearly $1.4 million in Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) grants to expand local COVID-19 vaccination efforts. Funding will support health centers across the congressional district to administer updated COVID-19 vaccines. Salud Para La Gente in Watsonville will receive a $298,093 HHS grant, Monterey County will receive a $432,157 HHS grant, Santa Cruz County will receive a $174,595 HHS grant, and Clinica de Salud Del Valle De Salinas will receive a $491,628 HHS grant to bolster COVID-19 vaccination, particularly among underserved populations across our congressional district.

"Widespread, up-to-date vaccination against COVID-19 is how we protect ourselves, families, and friends and keep on going forward. This federal funding is critical to expanding the work of our community health care workers who have worked tirelessly to vaccinate our communities and leave no one behind," said Rep. Panetta. "I'm proud that the federal government continues to play its part so that we at the local level can get vaccinated and get back to work, get together, get on the road to travel, and, ultimately, get back to living our normal lives."

"This supplemental award of $298,093 from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services allows us to continue to keep our patients and community safe through the winter and into the new year, by supporting expanded Covid-19 vaccine activities," said Dori Rose Inda, Chief Executive Officer of Salud Para La Gente.

"The County of Monterey Health Department is appreciative of receiving additional federal funding in the amount of $432,157 to support the continuation of COVID-19 vaccination efforts for our Medi-Cal and uninsured County residents who continue to be most disproportionately impacted by COVID-19," said Elsa Mendoza Jimenez, Director of the Monterey County Health Department Director. "The Health Department operates 10 Federally Qualified Health Centers in Salinas, Marina, and Seaside and serves approximately 40,000 patients. This HRSA funding will be used to expand COVID vaccination efforts which will support a broad range of activities aimed to boost COVID Vaccination confidence. For e.g., the funding will be used to conduct outreach and education to increase vaccine confidence and demand, continue to increase vaccination efforts, and provide enabling services."

"We are so grateful for this funding as it will allow us to continue to reduce disease in our community, work towards equity, and provide outreach to our most vulnerable populations," said Amy Peeler, Chief of Clinic Services in Santa Cruz County.

"We are extremely grateful that our Nation has provided these resources so that our families, all American Families, can protect themselves against these new viruses. We will make strong efforts to get the vaccines distributed throughout our community," said Dr. Max Cuevas, Chief Executive Officer at Clinica de Salud del Valle de Salinas.

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