ST LOUIS, MISSOURI (October 12, 2023) — It may not be snowing yet, but flu season — with all of its germs, sneezing, and more is coming. To help older adults avoid serious illness, the Village to Village Network was recently awarded a grant from the National Council on Aging (NCOA) for the COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine Uptake Initiative. The program is supported with funding from the Administration for Community Living, US Department of Health and Human Services.
The grant will support efforts by Village to Village network members nationwide in making it as easy as possible for older adults and people living with disabilities to get their updated vaccinations and protect their health.
“This grant will help us stand up a robust vaccination initiative around the country through villages that are members of our network,” said Barbara Hughes Sullivan, executive director of the Village to Village Network. “It’s especially important for people to get their flu vaccinations in September and October so they are protected before flu starts circulating over the holidays. For many people, vaccination is not just about keeping themselves safe. It’s also about keeping other people they care about protected from illness.”
Vaccination against the flu is important for everyone over six months of age, but it’s especially important for older adults and people living with disabilities, who may face additional health complications if they get sick.
Twelve Village to Village network members are receiving sub-grants to hold vaccine clinics locally and help people get to their vaccine appointments. They are:
- Chicago Hyde Park Village
- Kern River Valley Senior Citizens Inc, Lake Isabella, CA
- Senior Citizens Lamorinda Village — Lafayette, CA
- LOWLINC Inc, Locust Grove, VA
- Mount Vernon at Home, VA
- HomePorts Inc, Chestertown, MD
- NEXT Village SF — San Francisco, CA
- Pasadena Village — Pasadena, CA
- Rapp at Home — Washington, VA
- The Athens Village — Athens, OH
- Union County Neighbor to Neighbor — Marysville, OH
- York County Village Association — York, PA
Today, nearly nine out of ten deaths from COVID-19 are among people 65 and over, and 70-85% of seasonal flu-related deaths occur in older adults, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While lifesaving, safe, and tested vaccines are available, research shows COVID-19 vaccine-uptake has slowed among older adults. With the help of the grant, the Village to Village Network will organize a robust vaccination program to address this challenge around the country.
About the Village to Village Network
The Village to Village (VtV) Network is a membership-based organization that brings Villages together to share best practices for enabling older adults to live independent, healthy, purposeful lives with connections to their communities. The Network provides expert guidance, resources, and support to help communities establish and maintain thriving Villages, and champions the Village model at state and national levels as a best practice for healthy, vibrant aging.
About the National Council on Aging
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is the national voice for every person’s right to age well. NCOA believes that how we age should not be determined by gender, color, sexuality, income, or ZIP code. Working with thousands of national and local partners, NCOA provides resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy to ensure every person can age with health and financial security. Founded in 1950, NCAO is the oldest national organization focused on older adults. Learn more at www.ncoa.org and @NCOAging.
This COVID-19 and Influenza Vaccine Uptake Initiative for Older Adults and People with Disabilities Notice of Funding Opportunity (HHS-2023-ACL-AOA-HDRC-0043) is supported by the Administration for Community Living (ACL), US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $50 million with 100% funding by ACL/HHS. The content is that of the author(s) and does not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by ACL/HHS, or the US government.
