Because community-based physicians remain one of the most trusted messengers to dispel vaccine mythology and deliver inoculations, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) today launched the CalVaxGrant program to help reach the state’s vaccination goals and keep Californians healthy.

CalVaxGrants—administered by Physicians for a Healthy California (PHC)—is now accepting applications and will award eligible practices up to $55,000 in grant funding for COVID-19 vaccine administration.

“Community-based physicians remain one of the most trusted messengers to dispel vaccine mythology. And many physicians have already invested considerable time, energy, money and resources into vaccinating their patients against COVID-19,” said CMA President Peter N. Bretan, Jr., M.D. “Others have wanted to do more but needed additional support and infrastructure. And that’s where new state funding aims to help.”

CalVaxGrant will provide physician practices (with 200 or fewer physicians) practice support grants to help offset the costs of administering COVID-19 vaccines in their communities. Physicians can also be reimbursed for related expenses incurred since November 2020, including staffing, training, technology, infrastructure, supplies/equipment and administrative overhead.

Apply today at calvaxgrant.org. There you will also find resources, including an application checklist, grant guidelines, frequently asked questions and more. The application cycle is first come, first served. 

Practices that have received other grant funds to support COVID vaccine administration (e.g., the State Innovation Fund) are ineligble for CalVaxGrant. Practices must also complete Section A and B of the myCAVax application process to be eligible for CalVaxGrant funding.

"Since no one in our lifetime has managed a pandemic of this scale, we realize the process can be ladled with bureaucracy, confusion and mounds of paperwork," says Dr. Bretan. "CMA staff are ready to help you through the enrollment and CalVaxGrant application process."

If you are a primary care practice (general practice, general medicine, geriatrics, adult medicine, pediatrics, ob/gyn, internal medicine, family practice) and need help completing the myCAvax process, please email vaccinenetwork@cmadocs.org for one-on-one support.

Have questions about the application or want more information on the grant process? Register for any of PHC's upcoming free, one-hour webinars:

• Monday, August 9, 2021, at 9 p.m.