Community catalyst awarded CDC funds to increase adult COVID-19, ?u vaccination rates

JANS - New Horizon Ministries, Inc. - NHCI has been awarded a grant to fund outreach and education efforts focused specifically on building vaccine confidence among African American adults. Made possible with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and in partnership with Community Catalyst, the project aims to increase understanding of and trust about COVID-19 and influenza vaccines among adults at highest risk of infection and death from these illnesses.

The initiative comes amid a concerning rise in cases of the COVID-19 Delta variant and significant disparities in vaccination rates in historically underserved communities of color.

According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 hospitalization rates among non-Hispanic Black people and Hispanic or Latino people were both about 4.7 times the rate of nonHispanic white people.

"New Horizon Ministries, Inc. - NHCI is a faith-based organization. We put our faith and trust in God. That being said, we believe the COVID vaccine is safe and needed to help save lives. This grant provides us with an opportunity to disseminate vaccine information and education to our local communities, helping to increase the number of persons vaccinated and save lives," says Bishop Ronnie Crudup, Sr., New Horizon Ministries, Inc. - NHCI, Executive Director.

New Horizon Ministries, Inc (NHMI) - NHCI will work in collaboration with various health agencies, community organizations, and churches to help educate and increase the number of people vaccinated in Hinds County.

For more information about New Horizon Ministries, Inc - NHCI Vaccine Equity Access Program (VEAP), visit https:// www.nhcms.org or call 769208-3598.