Immunization Barriers in the United States: Targeting Medicaid Partnerships

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), through its National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD), is offering a cooperative agreement under the notice CDC-RFA-IP-23-0002, titled “Immunization Barriers in the United States: Targeting Medicaid Partnerships.” This grant initiative is part of the CDC's broader public health mission to reduce income-based disparities in immunization rates and promote vaccine equity across Medicaid-enrolled populations, including children, adolescents, adults, and pregnant individuals. The purpose of this funding opportunity is to establish and strengthen collaborative partnerships between state immunization programs and Medicaid programs. These partnerships aim to bolster vaccine confidence, address systemic immunization barriers, and improve vaccine coverage among Medicaid beneficiaries. Through this initiative, the CDC seeks to gain a better understanding of immunization barriers and encourage the sustainable use of Immunization Information Systems (IIS) by leveraging Medicaid-related federal funding opportunities for health information exchange. The total estimated funding available for this opportunity is $1,200,000 over a three-year period, with an approximate annual award of $200,000 per recipient. The CDC expects to issue two awards under this NOFO. There is no cost-sharing or matching requirement. Eligible applicants include a wide range of government entities such as state and local governments, public housing authorities, tribal governments and organizations, school districts, and nonprofits (both with and without 501(c)(3) status). Applicants are encouraged to demonstrate existing relationships with Medicaid leadership in at least 20 states through documentation such as MOUs or letters of support. Applications must be submitted electronically via www.grants.gov by April 12, 2023, at 11:59 PM Eastern Time. A Letter of Intent was not required, and there is no scheduled informational conference call. Applicants must include a full project narrative, an evaluation and performance measurement plan, a detailed work plan for year one, and a high-level work plan for years two and three. Required documents also include a budget narrative, organizational chart, resumes or CVs of key personnel, and compliance with federal grant submission standards. The CDC will evaluate applications based on three weighted criteria: Approach (35 points), Evaluation and Performance Measurement (25 points), and Organizational Capacity (40 points). Successful applicants will demonstrate a strong track record of collaborating with state Medicaid leaders, clear and evidence-based strategies to increase vaccine uptake, and a robust evaluation and data management plan. Awards are expected to be announced around September 15, 2023. For programmatic questions, the contact is Rishelle Anthony at lwf2@cdc.gov or 404-639-0745. For financial and grant submission questions, contact Kathy Raible at kcr8@cdc.gov or 770-488-2045.

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