As the nation’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign enters a new, more challenging phase, primary care providers will be key to reaching many of the millions of Americans who have not yet gotten their shots. In a new feature, the Commonwealth Fund offer lessons gleaned from interviews with primary care providers on how to integrate COVID-19 vaccination into their day-to-day work. Practices have faced many challenges, but many have also devised creative ways to assess and meet vaccine demand and respond to patients’ questions and concerns. A recent poll found that 53 percent of unvaccinated people prefer to be vaccinated in their personal doctor’s office. Learn how we can make that an easier option for more Americans.

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More than half of unvaccinated Americans live in households that make less than $50,000 annually. Almost two-thirds of unvaccinated people who make less than $50,000 still say they either “definitely” or “probably” will get the vaccine. Making it easier for the working poor to get the COVID-19 shot could help boost vaccination rates. Vaccination has been politicized, but juggling work schedules and child care could be bigger factors than politics, as could worry about experiencing side effects and having to take unpaid time off.

The COVID-19 Collaborative and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington School of Medicine released a new tool that shows data on people’s openness to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine by zip code and county for the entire United States. With more than 30,000 zip codes, compared to only 3,000 counties, this tool offers a ten-fold increase in the localization of data on vaccine intention and will be a significant contribution to vaccine uptake efforts. Current existing visualization maps show only up to the county level. Some vaccine intention rates in counties mask the low level of intention within zip codes in those counties, so it is critical to have this level of data.

Click here to see the map.

More than half of public health workers reported adverse mental health conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a recent CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. To help build workforce resilience, health centers may be interested in resources available on the COVID-19 Workforce Resilience/Sustainability Resources topic page. Additionally, check out this self-paced course developed by the Department of Health and Human Services and the National Association of County and City Health Officials to introduce the concept of Psychological First Aid as a leadership tool to build resilience.

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) opened the portal on July 1 for providers to report how Provider Relief Fund (PRF) funding was utilized.  Providers who received one or more PRF payments exceeding $10,000, in the aggregate, during a Payment Received Period must come in and report. The deadline for PRF reporting is September 30, 2021.

Review the updated Reporting Requirements Notice (June 11) and register in the PRF Reporting Portal (if not yet completed).

For additional assistance, reference the following resources:

• Stakeholder Toolkit
• Stakeholder One-pager
• Reporting-specific Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
• Portal User Guides
• Registration Process
• Submitting Reporting Information

All of these resources and more may be found on the HHS Reporting and Auditing webpage. Real-time assistance is available by calling the Provider Support Line at (866) 569-3522; for TTY dial 711. Hours of operation are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT, Monday through Friday.

HHS announced that, thanks to the American Rescue Plan, through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), it provided $398 million in funding through the Small Rural Hospital Improvement Program (SHIP) to 1,540 small rural hospitals for COVID-19 testing and mitigation. State Offices of Rural Health, which work with small rural hospitals to implement quality and operational improvement efforts, will receive the funding announced today to distribute to eligible small rural hospitals in their state. Hospitals will use the funds to maintain or increase COVID-19 testing, expand access to testing for rural residents, and tailor mitigation efforts to reflect the needs of local communities.

https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/07/13/hhs-provides-398-million-to-small-rural-hospitals-for-covid-testing.html

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) long-awaited Provider Relief Fund (PRF) Reporting Portal is now open for providers who need to report on the use of funds in Reporting Period 1. Providers who are required to report during Reporting Period 1 have until September 30, 2021, to enter the Portal and submit their information. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has provided an extensive reporting guide, example excel data entry sheets, and a new edition of the FAQs.

This toolkit from the HRSA-supported National Rural Health Resource Center helps rural community- and faith-based organizations, businesses, public health, schools, and health care organizations with internal and external COVID-19 vaccine communication materials. It provides easy access to customizable communication templates that include print ads, posters, brochures, social media posts and an online resource guide.

CDC updated their COVID-19 toolkit for pediatric healthcare professionals. CDC specifically updated their two fact sheets: COVID-19 Vaccines for Preteens and Teens and How mRNA Vaccines Work.