Overview
To date, a total of 16 organizations serving Fall River have received $2,275,106 through the Vaccine Equity Initiative.
These 16 organizations are part of the 198 community organizations that have been awarded over $62.8 million through the Vaccine Equity Initiative. Many of these organizations work across multiple communities, and some of them are funded through multiple components of the initiative.
Between March 3, 2021 and July 30, 2021, Fall River was allocated a total of 5,800 equity vaccine doses.
DPH Municipal Point of Contact
A designated DPH municipal point of contact works with each of the 20 municipalities.
To connect with the Fall River point of contact, email VaccineEquityInitiative@mass.gov.
Community-specific vaccination data
Community-specific data includes an interactive dashboard of vaccine administration results in each Vaccine Equity Initiative (VEI) community, updated weekly, and data from the DPH COVID Community Impact Survey to help target approaches.
Support for municipalities and local boards of health
Support for municipalities and Local Boards of Health includes direct funding of municipalities and Local Boards of Health for coordination and support for vaccine clinics and promoting vaccine acceptance.
Fall River: $211,129 (Awarded 3/30/21)
Additional COVID-19 local boards of health funding supports includes direct funding to meet immediate personnel and equipment needs to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. Distributed through state funds received through the federal CARES Act, the Public Health Trust Fund, and through direct appropriation beginning in March 2020.
Additional funding to Fall River: $347,745 (Awarded beginning March 2020)
Investment in community health centers
Investment in community health centers expands vaccination infrastructure and builds capacity at community health centers, including community health workers. Community Health Worker Ambassador Program funding includes $25,000* per Community Health Center through June 2021, with an additional $25,000 for FY22.
*funded through a public-private partnership
Funded Community Health Centers
| Community Health Center | Municipalities | Funding |
|---|---|---|
| Healthfirst Family Care Center | Fall River | $146,773 |
| SSTAR Family Healthcare Center | Fall River | $125,000 |
Focused grassroots outreach
Focused grassroots outreach in Fall River, led by HCFA, includes a local team of trained community residents to help increase trust in the vaccine, awareness of how, when and where to get a vaccine, and improve vaccine access by gathering information from community members through one-to-one conversations and providing referrals to services.
| Activity Type | Completed Week Ending September 26th | Cumulative Since Activities Began |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Doors Knocked | 915 | 29,502 |
| Number of Phone Calls Made | 137 | 179 |
| Number of One-On-One Conversations | 191 | 5,840 |
| % of conversations with unvaccinated | 22.0% | 29.9% |
| Number of Visibility & Outreach Events | 7 | 162 |
| Number of Materials Disseminated | 35 | 4,419 |
The HCFA team from Fall River consists of 5 staff or contracted individuals and approximately 4 people from the partner Community Based Organizations (CBOs) listed below. HCFA-funded CBOs are conducting visibility events and supporting vaccine clinics.
- Family Service Association: $12,000
- Immigrant Assistance Center: $10,000
Total CBO Funding in Fall River: $22,000
In addition, Fall River is served by the following CBOs working across several communities:
- Boston Center for Independent Living: $12,000
- Massachusetts Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired: $12,000
- The Learning Center for the Deaf: $12,000
Tailored community- and faith-based outreach and education
Tailored community and faith-based outreach and education includes supports to raise awareness of strategies to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and increase vaccination confidence and access for priority populations. Health Resources in Action (HRiA) and Health Care for All (HCFA) work with community organizations that received funding under this component of the Vaccine Equity Initiative through June 2023. The table below lists current and total awards made to funded organizations. Total funding may include funds received through both HRiA and HCFA, depending on the organization. View a more detailed list of all funding awards made since December 2020: Vaccine Equity Initiative - Funded CBOs and FBOs - Updated March 2023
| Organization | Communities Served | Community Grants and TA Provider |
Current Funding Jan 2023– June 2023 |
Total Funding Dec. 2020 – June 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centro de Apoyo Familiar (CAF) | Boston, Andover, Fall River, Haverhill, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Methuen, North Andover, Peabody | HRiA | $60,000 | $222,000 |
| Massachusetts Council of Churches | Attleboro, Brockton, Cambridge, Fall River, Haverhill, Natick, New Bedford, Northampton, Pittsfield, Stoneham, Statewide | HRiA | $60,000 | $279,037 |
| Immigrants Assistance Center | Fall River, New Bedford | HRiA | $181,129 | |
| Fishing Partnership, New Bedford | Chatham, Fall River, Gloucester, Lynn, New Bedford, Massachusetts Port Towns | HRiA | $60,000 | 185,000 |
| New Life Community Empowerment Center | Brockton, Fall River, New Bedford, Randolph, Taunton, Wareham | HRiA | $60,000 | $296,167 |
* Organizations that were previously funded by Health Resources in Action (HRiA) through December 2022.
Mobile vaccination services
Mobile COVID-19 vaccination services address a particular community need that cannot be met by existing vaccination opportunities and are deployed to meet the needs of prioritized populations.
From April 5 through May 26, Fall River received additional vaccine doses from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), delivered by CIC Health and Cataldo Ambulance through mobile vaccination clinics in community settings. Since May 26, the state has continued to support the mobile vaccination clinics.
Communications materials
Communications materials are available to support communities with vaccine information; translated materials available in 10 languages.
Visit www.mass.gov/TrustTheFacts.
Vaccine access and administration in community settings
This funding is intended to increase community-based access to and receipt of COVID-19 vaccination for priority communities and populations who are experiencing disproportionate impacts of COVID-19.
Vaccine Access and Navigation Services funds organizations for services such as assistance with appointment registration, transportation to vaccination clinics, mobility assistance, medical interpretation, and other supports.
Customized Vaccine Administration funds qualified community organizations to directly administer vaccination to groups not effectively reached by other mechanisms. These organizations can be deployed to smaller venues, with populations that may require more intensive one-on-one support to get vaccinated.
The following organizations are receiving funding for 12 months to begin offering services by mid-May 2021.
Organization Funding Vaccine Access and Navigation Services Customized Vaccine Administration Communities of Focus (People from other communities may also be served)
| Organization | Funding | Vaccine Access and Navigation Services | Customized Vaccine Administration | Communities of Focus (People from other communities may also be served) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seven Hills Behavioral Health, Inc. | $400,000 | X | X | Fall River, New Bedford |
| SSTAR (Stanley Street Treatment & Resources, Inc.) | $150,000 | X | Fall River, New Bedford |
The COVID-19 Community Impact Survey
The COVID-19 Community Impact Survey is a survey of more than 35,000 people regarding the social and economic consequences of COVID-19 on MA communities. View the findings.
COVID-19 vaccination and testing sites
COVID-19 Vaccination: Search vaccines.gov for vaccination appointments or find a mobile vaccination clinic.
COVID-19 Testing: Tests are available at pharmacies, retailers, and various health care locations. Visit covid.gov/tests for free at-home tests. Use the CDC search tool to find a PCR testing site. Learn more about the different types of COVID-19 testing.