The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will award $140 million for COVID-19 vaccine preparedness and almost $87 million for tracking and testing to 64 jurisdictions, including all 50 states and U.S. territories, according to a press release from the Department of Health and Human Services.
The vaccine funds will provide infrastructure support to existing grantees through the Immunizations and Vaccines for Children cooperative agreement.
The CDC also allocated $200 million in September to help prepare to distribute COVID-19 vaccines.
The money for tracking and testing, which is designed to expand capacity at public health laboratories, will be funneled through the Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity for Prevention and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases (ELC) Cooperative Agreement.
The tracking and testing efforts, which are designed to complement vaccine implementation activities, will focus on the following: increasing the use of advanced molecular detection technologies, such as whole genome sequencing of SARS-CoV-2; strengthening public health laboratory preparedness; and optimizing data sharing and communication with international travelers, HHS said.
