Help for Organizations

Key information is provided below for organizations seeking to vaccinate staff and those seeking easier vaccine access for their clients.

I run a camp or other out-of-school program, can my counselors/teachers get vaccinated?

At the end of January, the Essential Workers Team of the CDC’s Vaccine Implementation Task Force confirmed with the American Camp Association (ACA) that out-of-school workers had been included in the Essential Workers category as requested. State and local health authorities are responsible for establishing the parameters within which camps will be allowed to operate in person this summer. The ACA expects rules and guidance to be issued at mid-spring and offers a vaccination toolkit to support essential workers' vaccination. Scott Brody, educator and National Board Chair of the ACA, discusses reopening plans for Jewish camps throughout the country.

Generally, the CDC has issued recommendations to guide youth and summer camps as they consider operating in person this summer. Camp administrators can use the CDC’s readiness and planning tool, which describes how camps can help their campers, counselors, and communities to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

My organization works with older adults, people with disabilities, and others who may need transportation to a vaccine site. How can we help them find a ride?

Those covered by Medicaid or Medicare may be eligible for non-emergency medical transportation, but coverage varies from state to state. If available, this benefit may provide transportation to vaccination appointments. You can help clients check their plan to determine whether this coverage is available and how to access it.

 

On May 11th, the Biden Administration announced free rides from Uber and Lyft to vaccine appointments. With significant new federal funding from the American Rescue Plan Act, the Biden Administration earlier announced new state grants to expand transportation to vaccine appointments for older adults and people with disabilities, we anticipate that more state, local, and community resources for vaccine-related transportation will soon be available in your area. To learn about transportation resources for older adults and people with disabilities near you, please contact:
 

 


My organization works with homebound older adults, people with disabilities, and others who cannot easily be moved. How can we help them get vaccinated?

Vaccinating homebound seniors and people with disabilities is proving to be a significant challenge across the country. The CDC has issued guidance for vaccinating those who are homebound because they need someone’s help. Both the CDC and the National Governors Association recommend mobile vaccination as an element of equitable vaccine distribution measures. States, counties and cities are expanding mobile vaccination operations to administer the vaccine to these hard-to-reach older adults, people with disabilities, and those with serious health conditions at home. Thanks to significant new federal funding provided in the American Rescue Plan Act, state and local efforts to implement mobile vaccination are expanding. Florida, for example, recently launched statewide mobile vaccination for homebound individuals and federally qualified community health centers and others will be launching new efforts throughout the country. To learn what options are available in your community, please contact:
 


My organization works with Russian speaking clients who need information about the vaccine translated for them. Is there vaccine information translated into Russian, Yiddish, or other languages?

The CDC and the FDA have made many of their vaccine resources available in Russian, as well as other languages. Here are just a few:

 

  • CDC general COVID-19 vaccine information in Russian and other languages.
     
  • CDC communications toolkit in Russian and Yiddish.
     
  • FDA factsheet on the Pfizer vaccine translated into multiple languages.
     
  • FDA factsheet on the Moderna vaccine translated into multiple languages.

 

 

Are nonprofit community organizations like mine eligible for additional funding to help expand community vaccination efforts?

Through funding made available in the American Rescue Plan Act, the Biden Administration recently announced broad new efforts to expand community vaccination outreach and engagement efforts to connect people to vaccinations. Through FEMA assistance, community-based organizations and faith-based organizations can fund the cost of in-person, phone, and online community engagement, including personnel and other costs, and more. The Biden Administration just released this list of state and local resources for organizations seeking to participate in this effort, and maintains a COVID-19 Toolkit for community partner organizations.

 

Are nonprofit community organizations like mine eligible for tax credits for providing employees paid leave to allow them to get vaccinated?

 

Yes, the Internal Revenue Service and the Treasury Department recently announced details about the tax credits available under the American Rescue Plan Act to help small businesses, including providing paid leave for employees receiving COVID-19 vaccinations. Eligible employers, such as businesses and tax-exempt organizations with fewer than 500 employees and certain governmental employers, can receive a tax credit for providing paid time off for each employee receiving the vaccine and for any time needed to recover from the vaccine. The IRS provides more details here about what forms need to be filed and how to claim it. See also this snapshot about it from the Treasury Department.