CMH rural health clinics receive $643,877 HRSA grant
Citizens Memorial Hospital has been awarded a $643,877 grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration to help boost vaccine confidence and counter vaccine hesitancy in rural communities where COVID-19 vaccine uptake lags in comparison to more populated areas.
Created in 1982, HRSA is a division of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is focused on improving health care to people that are geographically isolated and economically or medically vulnerable.
The grant is a part of the Rural Health Clinic Vaccine Confidence (RHCVC) program that will allow rural health clinics to use the funding for a broad range of efforts to improve health care in rural areas and reinforce basic messages about prevention and treatment of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
Some of these efforts include vaccine promotion, providing information to rural residents about how and where to get vaccinated, coordinating with existing vaccination sites and public health partners to identify isolated and hesitant populations, increase rural community and individuals patient literacy on benefits of broad vaccination and safety of vaccines.
CMH urges our community members to get vaccinated against COVID-19. If you would like to be vaccinated and you are 18 years of age or older you can make an appointment with your primary care provider at a CMH family medical clinic, or contact Stephens Pharmacy at 417-326-2416.
For individuals 12 and older that are an established patient at CMH Pediatric Clinic you can call 417-777-2121 to schedule an appointment. The clinic offers Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines 10 a.m.-3:45 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays.
The Polk County Health Department also provides COVID-19 vaccinations at the Polk County Health Center Monday-Friday 8-11:30 a.m. and 1-4 p.m. Call 417-326-7250 for more information.
Additional information about COVID-19 vaccines and locations to receive a vaccination in Missouri can be found at https://covidvaccine.mo.gov/.