CDC, NIFA, and Cooperative Extension Partner to Address Health Disparities in Underserved Communities

The Extension Foundation, in cooperation with APLU’s Extension Committee on Organization and Policy (ECOP), with funding from the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is funding a nearly $10 million grant opportunity to address health disparities among rural and other underserved communities.

This effort, called the Extension Collaborative on Immunization Teaching and Engagement (EXCITE) project, is providing two opportunities for land-grant universities to promote vaccine confidence. Activity 1, Vaccinate with Confidence Campaign, is designed to test various health messages related to COVID-19 vaccinations and test them in many locations/audiences across the country and to learn what health messages resonate with priority audiences. Vaccinate with Confidence will work primarily on messaging for COVID-19 vaccinations and seek to reduce vaccination hesitancy. Activity 1 is open to all Extension professionals at all Land-Grant Universities (1862, 1890, 1994).

Activity 2, Immunization Education Pilots, is competitive and supports up to 20 pilots, testing various methodologies to conduct immunization education programs with priority populations for all types of adult vaccinations. Funded projects will work cooperatively with the CDC, local health professionals and programs to improve immunization rates with priority populations. Activity 2 is open to all Land-Grant University Cooperative Extension System professionals.