Immunizations: Routine Immunizations Through Community Engagement (RICE) Grant

Access Community Health Centers

Judy Keel: Judy.keel@accesshealthwi.org
Location: Madison, WI

Access Community Health Centers is using funds to hold vaccine clinics and provide vaccine reminders. Vaccine clinics in the fall focused on flu and COVID-19 and continued routine vaccine clinics will occur for the rest of the grant period. Translation services will also be offered as well as $10 gas cards, which are being provided from another funding source, to alleviate transportation barriers. Target populations are the under or uninsured pediatric population in Dane County, in the Southern region. They will be partnering with the Madison Metropolitan School District and Public Health Madison Dane County.

Angelic Assistance Community Care Co.

Yinka Olapo: info@angelicassistance.org
Location: Milwaukee, WI

Angelic Assistance Community Care Co. is using RICE 2.0 funds to train and deploy trusted community messengers as vaccine ambassadors, while building trust with transparency of vaccine processes within the organization. We use text messages and email reminders for vaccination to increase opportunities for COVID-19 and flu vaccination. We collaborate with other local pharmacies to provide in-home vaccinations for homebound individuals and promote vaccine clinics on social media through posts. Our target populations are African American/Black, elderly, homebound, low income, youth, individuals with disabilities, immigrants, refugees, and adult populations in Milwaukee County, in the Southeastern region. We partner with Milwaukee African Women's Association, African French Ministry, Maximus, Healthy Connections, Nigerian Community in Milwaukee, African Stakeholders Inc, Milwaukee Black Grassroots Network for Health Equity and Faith based organizations to conduct vaccine education and outreach, distributing customized educational materials to promote vaccine confidence and uptake. They are grateful for the opportunity this RICE 2.0 grant has afforded AACC, to effectively execute our work in the community.

Chippewa Valley Free Clinic

Robin Kranig: Robin@cvfreeclinic.org
Location: Eau Claire, WI

Chippewa Valley Free Clinic is using funds to hire an intern to be a project manager and Hispanic outreach case manager, provide clinical reminders for vaccine appointments, provide routine immunization education in clinics, and complete educational outreach outside of the clinics. Their target populations are Latinx and Hispanic, low income, migrant workers, farm workers, houseless/housing insecure, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+, low literacy, rural, and adult populations in Eau Claire, Trempealeau, Clark, Pepin, Buffalo, and Chippewa Counties, in the Western region. They will be partnering with UW-Eau Claire, LE Philips Library, Hmong Association, Hispanic grocery stores, food banks.

Clark County Health Department

Kesley Wussow: Kelsey.wussow@co.clark.wi.us
Location: Neillsville, WI

The Clark County Health Department is using the funds to help focus immunization efforts not only in the general public, but also in the Plain Community (Amish and/or Mennonites), Hispanic population, schools, and child-care centers. Efforts include monthly vaccine spotlights, promoting routine immunization clinics through all types of promotional avenues, establishing new routine immunization clinics in gap areas, conducting vaccine hesitancy surveys, increasing learning opportunities for their local immunization coalition, and much more.

Dodge County Health and Human Services

Roman Mullen: rmullen@co.dodge.wi.us
Location: Juneau, WI

Dodge County Human Services and Health Department is using funds to hold school-based, flu immunization clinics at participating Dodge County elementary, middle, and high schools, offer off-site flu vaccination clinics, develop curriculum on VPD to send home with school aged children, expand vaccine clinic hours past 9-5 for increased access, and conduct vaccine hesitancy surveys for adults with school-aged children to direct future vaccine outreach. Their target populations are Latinx and Hispanic, low income, migrant workers, farm workers, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+, low literacy, rural, and pediatric populations in Dodge County, in the Southern region. They will be partnering with school nurses, county Emergency Management team, NGOs, and neighboring county health departments.

Fond du Lac County Health Department

www.health@fdlco.wi.gov
Location: Fond du Lac, WI

Fond du Lac County Health Department is using funds to offer VFA/VFC and provide Spanish interpreter services at all clinics. Their target populations are Hispanic and Latinx, low income, migrant workers, farm workers, low literacy, rural, houseless/housing insecure, and adult populations in Fond du Lac County, in the Western region. They will be partnering with NE WI Immunization Coalition, Fond du Lac School District, Immunize Wisconsin, the faith community, homeless shelters, and Latinos Unidos.

Green County Public Health

Joni Marty jmarty@greencountywi.org
Location: Monroe, WI

Green County Public Health is using funds to bring vaccinations and vaccine education to partner organization events, reduce barriers by expanding access to vaccinations, and do promotional outreach for vaccination events. Their target populations are elderly, homebound, low income, houseless/housing insecure, individuals with disabilities, rural and adult populations in Green County, in the Southern region. They will be partnering with Green County ADRC, Hometown Pharmacy, local senior centers, and affordable senior housing.

Hayat Pharmacy

Fauzia Qureshi fqureshi@hayatrx.com
Location: Milwaukee, WI

Hayat Pharmacy is using funds to host 45 mobile clinics in zip codes with highest vulnerability, train and educate 20+ Community Health Workers on vaccination and VPD, translate messaging into Arabic, Urdu, and Spanish, and provide 80 in-home vaccinations. Their target populations are African-American/Black, elderly, homebound, Latinx and Hispanic, low income, migrant workers, AIAN, Hmong, houseless/housing insecure, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+, low literacy, immigrants and refugees, and adult populations in Milwaukee, Sheboygan, and Jackson counties, in the Southeastern, Northeastern, and Western regions. They will be partnering with faith-based organizations, universities, homeless shelters, barbershops, food pantries, senior centers, community health workers, and community leaders.

Health Connections Inc.

Ericka Sinclair: ESinclair@hcmke.org
Location: Glendale, WI

Health Connections Incorporated is using funds to host vaccine education and resource fairs, host podcasts on vaccinations, do one large-scale community event, create culturally relevant and accessible resources/media. Their target populations are African American/Black, elderly, frontline or supply chain workers, homebound, Latinx and Hispanic, low income, youth, Hmong, LGBTQ+, low literacy, and adult populations in Milwaukee County, in the Southeastern region. They will be partnering with the City of Milwaukee Health Department and other local community and government partners.

The Hmong Institute

Peng Her: Peng.Her@thehmonginstitute.org
Location: Madison, WI

The Hmong Institute is using funds to do outreach on a Hmong radio show, to dispel vaccine misinformation, and host COVID-19 clinics for the Hmong community. Their target populations are elderly, low income, Hmong, individuals with disabilities, low literacy, Lao, Cambodian, and Nepali, and adult populations in Madison, Sun Prairie, Fitchburg, and DeForest, in the Southern region. They will be partnering with Hmong Medical Association, Hmong Nurses Association, PHMDC, Benevolence Specialist Project, Hmong Legacy Market, Om Asian Market, Asian Midway Market, Fresh Mart, Hmoob Oriental Market, and WI Hmong Association.

Iowa County Health Department

Carly Tibbits: Carly.Tibbits@iowacounty.org
Location: Dodgeville, WI

Iowa County Health Department is using funds to provide vaccinations at various locations including Community Connections Free Clinic, farms that employ migrant farm workers, local thrift store/food pantry, homebound individual’s homes, low-income housing communities and schools. They have advertised the VFA program through a variety of channels as well as in various languages. This funding has allowed them to outreach vulnerable populations, integrate equity into services, and continue vaccine education/training for employees. Their target populations are elderly, homebound, Latinx and Hispanic, low income, migrant workers, farm workers, houseless/housing insecure, individuals with disabilities, rural, and adult populations in Iowa County and surrounding areas, in the Southern region.

Jackson County Health Department

Liberty Belter liberty.belter@jacksoncountwi.gov
Location: Black River Falls

Jackson County Health Department is using funds to do media campaigns to promote Give Kids Their Best Shot Program, build rapport with Amish and Mennonite communities, and do tailored vaccine clinics. Their target populations are low income, rural, AIAN, youth, and pediatric populations in Jackson County, in the Western region. They will be partnering with Ho-Chunk Nation, Tribal Health Department, and local schools and churches.

Lake Superior Community Health Center

Tanya Bourdeau: tbourdeau@lschc.org
Location: Superior, WI

Lake Superior Community Health Center is using funds to build on existing school-based, trauma informed behavioral health care by improving access to vaccines and bringing together county-wide vaccinators to avoid duplication of effort. Their hope is to improve access for target populations that include African-American/Black, Hispanic/Latinx, low income, youth, American Indian Alaska Native (AIAN), houseless/housing insecure, rural, and pediatric populations in the northern region of Douglas County. They will be partnering with school districts, head start, childcare providers, homeless shelters, and public housing.

The Lakes Community Health Center

Sarah Tarkington: starkington@nlccwi.org
Location: Ashland, WI

NorthLakes Community Clinic (The Lakes Community Health Center) is using funds to continue to provide sensory friendly vaccine clinics in northern Wisconsin. Many of the clinics serve a rural population as well as federally recognized Tribes. The medical clinic locations have demonstrated a high need for sensory friendly clinics and sensory friendly vaccination procedures based on incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in their populations. Their target populations are low income, youth with Autism and Sensory disorders, AIAN, low literacy, rural, and pediatric populations in Ashland, Bayfield, Iron, Oconto, Sawyer, Langlade and Washburn counties across northern Wisconsin. They will be partnering with the Autism Society of Greater Wisconsin, local health departments, schools, hospitals, and WIC departments.

Marquette County Health Department

Mel Hodges mhodges@co.marquette.wi.us
Location: Montello, WI

Marquette County Health Department is using funds to work to bring VFC vaccines to schools and childcare facilities in the county (only VFC provider in the county), leverage already good standing relationships with the Amish community, and undo do some misinformation about vaccines that was developed by the Amish community in the region back in the 90s. Their target populations are the low income, youth, rural, Amish, and pediatric populations in Marquette County, in the Northeastern region. They will be partnering with schools, Amish elders, childcare facilities, and local churches.

Sixteenth Street Community Health Center

Fernando Moreno: Fernando.Moreno@sschc.org
Location: Milwaukee, WI

The Sixteenth Street Community Health Center is using RICE 2.0 funding to lengthen their reach across various fronts. We are improving internal vaccine administration workflows. We are acquiring computing and medical scanning equipment to modernize our physical inventory. These advances will work in tandem with a targeted advertising campaign to increase our public profile and to enhance accessibility to our services by several underrepresented populations in our city and region. This includes vaccine reminders via individual patient outreach. This also facilitates our vaccine advocacy efforts which include messaging and formation of media in several languages. We conduct these activities in the midst of a Health Professional “desert.” The target populations within this area comprise Latinx families with children, as well as significant immigrant and refugee populations from around the globe. Within this desert, thousands of Milwaukeeans face prohibitive barriers to care, due to insufficient income and due to a lack of familiarity with resources we can provide. RICE 2.0 funding lowers all of these hurdles to the most vulnerable individuals in our community.

Taylor County Health Department

Michelle Cahoon michelle.cahoon@co.taylor.wi.us
Location: Medford, WI

The Taylor County Health Department (TCHD), located in rural central Wisconsin and DHS’s Northern Region, is dedicated to meeting people where they are at to help them achieve their health goals, including staying up to date on routine vaccinations. Utilizing a combination of in-home appointments, expanding opportunities to access vaccinations within the department, and offering pop-up clinics through partner agencies, staff have been able to connect with those that are at a higher risk for health disparities. The specific populations supported through this initiative include older adults, homebound, low-income, individuals with disabilities, and uninsured or underinsured adult residents. Partners in this project include a mix of public, private, and nonprofit organizations including the Taylor County Commission on Aging, Taylor County Human Services, Aging Disabilities Resource Center of the Northwoods, Black River Industries, Indianhead Community Action Agency, Aspirus, libraries, businesses, local media, and other entities that are committed to serving our most vulnerable residents. By engaging the community and organizations that provide programs and services for these groups, they will be able to effectively leverage resources and connections to address the needs of its residents to achieve sustainable behavior and community change!

Western Wisconsin Health

Rosa Magnus: Rosa.Magnus@wwhealth.org
Location: Baldwin, Wisconsin

Western Wisconsin Health is using funds to hold vaccine clinics and education to Spanish speaking migrant workers in Western Wisconsin focusing on manufacturing and agricultural employees. Three clinics will be held over the grant cycle at local farms with outreach made by the WWH Medical Assistant Interpreter. Their target populations are Latinx and Hispanic, migrant workers, farm workers, and adults in St. Croix, Pierce, and Polk counties, in the Western region. They will be partnering with Family Resource Center of St. Croix Valley, and Area Health Care Education Centers Northwest for outreach and interpretation.

Autism Society of Greater Wisconsin

Katie Hess, info@autismgreaterwi.org
Location: Appleton, WI

The Autism Society of Greater Wisconsin used RICE 1.0 funds to transition COVID-19 sensory friendly vaccine clinics to include routine immunizations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they received overwhelmingly positive feedback from families of children on the Autism Spectrum about the experience of getting a COVID-19 vaccine at a sensory friendly vaccine clinic. Some families stated that they wish sensory friendly clinics were an option for all types of vaccines. With RICE 1.0 funds, the Autism Society of Greater Wisconsin made that wish a reality. Sensory friendly vaccine clinics were designed to provide a flexible, supportive, and calm environment during the vaccination process. While each clinic looked different, generally participants had access to the following accommodations/tools: social narrative to prepare for visit, one-on-one trained support staff, visual schedule, sensory fidgets, shotblocker to help with injection pain, Buzzy Bee to help with injection pain, sensory tools like weighted blankets, water toys, or noise canceling headphones.

Boys and Girls Club of Green Bay

Location: Green Bay

The Boys and Girls Club of Green Bay used the funds to promote and host one free routine vaccination clinic per month during the RICE 1.0 Grant Period.

Burmese Rohingya Community of Wisconsin

Andrew Trumbull Info.brcw@gmail.com
Location: Milwaukee, WI

The Burmese Rohingya Community of Wisconsin used funds to expand on previous VCO cycles to host larger and more comprehensive health events at their newly founded community center on Milwaukee's South Side. In addition to translating vaccine education materials into both Burmese and Rohingya written and oral languages, BRCW also hosted community events offering free routine vaccines. During these events, volunteer doctors and nurses were invited to offer more health programs alongside immunization such as basic health screening, interpreted and gender specific services to the Burmese and Rohingya refugee community in Milwaukee.

Chippewa Valley Free Clinic

Robin Kranig Robin@cvfreeclinic.org
Location: Eau Claire, WI

Chippewa Valley Free Clinic used the funds to hire an intern to be a project manager and Hispanic outreach case manager, provide clinical reminders for vaccine appointments, provide routine immunization education in clinics, and complete educational outreach outside of the clinics. Their target populations are Latinx and Hispanic, low income, migrant workers, farm workers, houseless/housing insecure, individuals with disabilities, LGBTQ+, low literacy, rural, and adult populations in Eau Claire, Trempealeau, Clark, Pepin, Buffalo, and Chippewa Counties, in the Western region. They will be partnering with UW-Eau Claire, LE Philips Library, Hmong Association, Hispanic grocery stores, food banks.

Clark County Health Department

Kesley Wussow: Kelsey.Wussow@co.clark.wi.us
Location: Neillsville, WI

Clark County Health Department used the funds to help focus immunization efforts not only in the general public, but also in Plain Community, schools and childcare centers, and Hispanic population. Efforts include monthly vaccine spotlights, promotion of routine immunization clinics through all types of promotional avenues, establishing new routine immunization clinics in gap areas, conduct vaccine hesitancy surveys, increasing learning opportunities for their local immunization coalition, and more.

Gerald L Ignace Indian Health Center

info@gliihc.net
Location: Milwaukee, WI

Many local Natives expressed concern about the lack of access to culturally competent health care services in the greater Milwaukee Area. The mission of the organization is to “improve the health, peace, and well-being of urban Indians in the Greater Milwaukee area.” In addition to the range of physical and mental health care, GLIIHC recognizes and supports the growing body of evidence that demonstrates that a strong tie to one’s cultural heritage improves health. The Gerald L Ignace Indian Health Center used RICE 1.0 funds to support vaccination checks and referrals as part of a Children’s Health and Wellness Fair. The health center strategically planned the health fair to coincide with the local Indian Community School’s spring break to ensure that families could attend. This event also featured many other health promoting activities such as well-child checks, scheduling dental appointments, mental health screenings, and insurance and benefits enrollment.

Hmong American Center Inc.

Mariana Savela msavela@uwsa.edu; Yee Leng Xiong yeelengxiong@hmongamericancenter.org
Location: Wausau, WI

The Hmong American Center Inc. used funds to support the existing community health worker networks. The community health workers are Hmong and Hispanic individuals that reflect the community and assisted in connecting people to accessible routine vaccinations.

Newcap Inc.

Debbie Bushman DebbieBushman@newcap.org
Location: Corporate- Green Bay, WI; Satellite offices in Oconto, Marinette, Crandon, Shawano, and Rhinelander

Newcap Inc. used the funds to serve individuals who experienced homelessness and/or poverty in the Green Bay area and used funds to assist people in accessing their vaccine records and receiving needed vaccines at free pop-up clinics.

North Lakes Community Clinic

Beth Probst bprobst@nlccwi.org
Location: Iron River, WI; All medical sites: Ashland, Iron River, Hayward, Hurley, Lakewood, Minong, and White Lake

Throughout the duration of the grant, funding was applied toward the wages and fringe benefits of three key NorthLakes Community Clinic staff who play a crucial role in vaccine coordination and dissemination throughout its 20,000-square-mile service area across northern Wisconsin. Funds supported the work of NLCC's Pharmacy Director, Medical Services Manager, and Quality Improvement Assistant, who collaborated to increase routine vaccination rates among children at their seven medical clinics. Staff time was invested in improving organization-wide children vaccine rates via several impactful and coordinated activities. Additionally, a portion of the funding was used to purchase Digital Data Loggers (DDLs) and Refrigerator/Freezer Datalogging Traceable Thermometers for the seven medical clinics. These are some of the key tools that allow the clinic to target and vaccinate underserved populations throughout 20,000 square miles of northern Wisconsin.

ProHealth Care Foundation

Shawn Verdoni shawn.verdoni@phci.org
Location: Waukesha, WI

With this grant funding, the ProHealth Care Foundation launched a social media platform tailored to the Hispanic community of Waukesha and Jefferson Counties to demystify misinformation about vaccines. Among some of the community outreach materials were radio ads, podcasts, and social media, in Spanish which were appealing to our Hispanic community. We used bilingual community health workers and nurses to disseminate the information to the Hispanic community. The social media platforms reached an outstanding 28,000 accounts with the messaging about the importance of vaccines. The Spanish-language radio ads reached a total of 250,000 listeners in the southeastern Wisconsin area.

West Allis Health Department

Becca Marszalkowski, rmarszalkowski@westalliswi.gov
Location: City of West Allis and Village of West Milwaukee (Milwaukee County), WI

The West Allis Health Department utilized RICE 1.0 funds to create a childhood and adolescent vaccine awareness campaign, to enhance outreach efforts, and to develop culturally and linguistically appropriate educational materials for English and non-English speakers. The target populations for outreach and vaccination were African American/Black and Latinx/Hispanic youth, our historically underserved populations with low routine vaccination rates. We were able to engage in innovative marketing techniques due to the RICE grant. Reaching over 15,000 people with our sensory friendly clinic promotion was a new record for our Health Department on social media. The amount of shares and reposts in English and Spanish reached an estimated 23.3+% of the total population we serve. Additionally, our five bus ads received over 1 million impressions in the first month of running.

Application details

What is the application link? And where do I find the budget and performance measurements templates to attach to the link?

Applications closed April 3, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. CST.

The Performance Measurement and Budget template can be found the Wisconsin Public Notices site and can be filled out and uploaded to the REDCap application.

Is there a maximum limit for amount of funds requested per applicant?

Yes, organizations can apply for up to $40,000 for either the pediatric or adult grant. You may request less than the maximum limit.

How many grants will be awarded?

12 grants total will be awarded—six pediatric grants and six adult grants.

When will the awards be announced?

Awards will be announced 30–45 days from the application deadline.

When do you anticipate the contracts to start?

Contracts can take some time to process through DHS. While a definite date cannot be given, the anticipated timeline for funding is to have contracts starting early to mid-July 2024. This is tentative.

If there are not enough applicants to award the full amount of the grant, can we identify upfront that our organization would like more funds if available?

You may identify on the application that your organization is willing to accept additional funding if available. However, you still must justify why you would require the additional funds and how those funds will be used towards your objectives.

Are pediatric offices eligible for this grant, or is it only for Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) and Local and Tribal Health Departments (LTHDs)?

Organizations meeting at least one of the criteria listed in the RFA are eligible to apply for this grant program.

Can there be more than one application submitted by a large corporate entity?

Sub-organizations under a large corporate entity are eligible to apply for either RFA if they have a unique tax ID and submit separate, unique projects.

Can multiple Local Health Departments apply for this grant together? If so, how would the grant reimbursement be handled? Would one of the Local Health Departments serve as the fiscal agent?

Yes, we ask that one LHD would be the fiscal agent and then they are welcome to partner with other agencies/ have sub-recipients.

Are we required to have matching grant amounts, or a specific percentage of additional funding dedicated before we can apply to this project?

No, the only requirement to apply is that you need to have the funds to fund the activity that you are doing until you are reimbursed by DHS.

For areas that have high vaccination rates, is the amount of funding given dependent on how much vaccination rates change over the proposed course of activities?

No, this funding is awarded based on activities and need.

How many awards per region will be awarded?

There are five regions in the state. We ideally would like to give out two awards per region to make sure that we are dispersing funds across the state evenly and not favoring regions that may have more applicants or different calibers of applicants. However, this is based on having eligible and high-quality applications from each region.

VFA and VFC programs

Does my organization need to be a Vaccines for Children (VFC) or Vaccines for Adults (VFA) provider to be eligible for this grant?

No, your organization is still eligible. However, the organizations that are VFC or VFA providers, or are partnered with a VFC or VFA provider, will be given additional points during the scoring review process.

For vaccine clinics, would we need to follow the same income guides for VFA/VFC?

If you are administering vaccines that are provided to you from either the VFA or VFC programs, you need to adhere to the guidelines of those programs (only administer VFA/VFC vaccines to individuals who are eligible to receive those vaccines). This applies to vaccines you receive through any other program, please ALWAYS adhere to the guidelines of those programs.

If you are hosting a clinic, you can vaccinate VFA/VFC eligible individuals with VFA/VFC allotted vaccines, AND you can vaccinate non-eligible individuals using privately bought vaccine.

We partner with a pharmacy to provide both outreach and vaccinations. How do we determine if the pharmacy we work with is a Vaccine for Adults provider organization?

There are no pharmacies currently enrolled in the Wisconsin VFA program.

We recently did an outreach event as a VFC provider where we went to an open house at a local public school and provided childhood immunizations for those who were behind schedule. Would this type of activity fit into the scope of this grant?

Yes, grant funds can be used for a vaccine event but cannot be used to purchase vaccines. The funds can be used to fund the activities associated with a school-based immunization event. For example, the funds could be used for advertising the vaccine event, professional service costs related to administering vaccines, vaccine storage or transportation materials (for example, vaccine approved coolers), or in-state travel costs.

Allowable and unallowable costs

Can we bill for vaccines?

No, vaccines are not reimbursable through this grant. However, items like vaccination supplies (such as gloves, syringes, etc.) are reimbursable as long as they are documented.

Are event expenses such as refreshments (for example, coffee, water, or snacks for attendees) allowable expenses?

No, food and beverages are not an allowable expense and are not eligible for reimbursement.

Are refrigerators or freezer purchases for vaccine storage allowed?

No, refrigerators or freezers for vaccine storage are not an allowable expense.

Can we purchase trailers for traveling clinics?

No, purchase of any vehicle would fall under the “no vehicle” policy and is therefore an unallowable expense.

Can we get reimbursed for maintenance costs on already-owned vehicles being used for immunization activities?

Vehicle (equipment) maintenance/upkeep costs are permissible to the extent that the item is used for executing allowable immunization activities (eCFR :: 45 CFR 75.452 -- Maintenance and repair costs).

Please note the following:

• Federal immunization funds cannot be used to support vehicle maintenance costs if they do not actually use the vehicles for immunization activities, unless there is a general pooled cost that the jurisdiction equitably applies to all programs.
• If the vehicles are shared use, the costs should be split to ensure immunization funds are not being used to cover the cost of maintenance for other public health programs.
• Also, make sure vehicle maintenance is not already covered under indirect. Since indirect costs are designed for basic overhead, maintenance costs may already be covered though it is possible it may not include ‘equipment’ maintenance and more so general maintenance.

Can we use contracted taxi services for getting patients into a clinic?

Yes, this is an allowable cost.

Can we request reimbursement for wages of coordinators (for example, people who help with scheduling patients, creating Sign-Up Genius links, assist with preparation for a vaccine clinic, administering vaccines)?

Staffing costs for individuals involved in approved vaccine outreach activities are allowable. If you have a vaccinator or a provider who is assisting your organization with your outreach activities, and that VFC provider invoices you for staff time, they would be considered a sub-awardee. Sub-awardee expenses are allowable expenses under this grant and need to be included in your application.

The head of our pharmacy oversees all the ordering of vaccinations and handles the administrative work leading up to vaccination events. Is their time reimbursable for these activities?

As long as staffing time relates to the activities approved in grant, and is in the approved budget, their time is reimbursable.

Can we reimburse vendors that develop educational or promotional materials for our vaccine clinics?

Yes, contactors and vendors are an allowable expense as long as it is in the approved budget.

Promotional items may include t-shirts, hats, bags (tote, fanny pack, and back pack), and water bottles, but items may NOT be branded with external organization’s logos; branding outside vaccine content is unallowable. Refer to the list of allowable and unallowable expenses listed in the RFA.

Can you make donations to immunization coalitions under this grant?

If you are getting some “service” from the coalition such as communication services, it should be a contracted service and, in the budget, should be listed under Contractual.

Donations made to an immunization coalition without any services rendered is an allowable cost.

Can we use grant funds for forming an immunization coalition?

If the immunization coalition is local in an area that doesn’t already have one, it may be allowable, however this will be subject to how the coalition will fit under the objectives (work and/or goals) of the RICE 3.0 grant.

There currently is a coalition in existence—The Immunize Wisconsin Coalition.

Can funds be used to obtain continuing education credits or to create a host site for certified medical assistants continuing education?

Yes. The cost of training and education provided for employee development is allowable, as long as it is education/training specific to vaccines.

Are Facebook Ads or boosting of posts about vaccines and clinics, as well as regular media (tv ads, radio ads, fliers, billboards, etc.) allowable costs?

Yes, these are all allowable costs. Please remember that social media and regular media ads are meant to supplement the in-person interactions and activities that your organization will conduct as a means of outreach.

Are magnets with CDC or ACIP routine vaccine guidance an allowable expense since they are not necessary printing-related costs?

So long as the magnets are serving as a medium for communicating accurate and verified vaccine information—like the approved vaccine schedules, or reminders with a date for when to return for dose 2—they would be considered a publication of vaccine information and are an acceptable expense. Other promotional materials or gifted materials with or without branding are not an allowable cost.

Are vaccine clinical supplies an allowable expense (for example, sharps disposals containers, needles, alcohol wipes)?

Yes, clinical supplies are an allowable expense. Purchasing vaccine doses or vials are not allowable expenses.

Are digital data loggers required for VFC providers considered an allowable expense?

Yes, digital data loggers for vaccine storage and transport can be funded through this grant.

Are out-of-state conferences or trainings an allowable expense under this grant?

Out-of-state conferences and trainings are an allowable expense if they are sponsored by a federal government agency (for example, CDC or DHHS) or a national organization for immunizations.

What are stipend reimbursements?

Stipend reimbursements are funds directed towards stipends designated as a payment made to an individual under a fellowship or training grant. The stipend is in accordance with established levels to provide for the individual’s living expenses during the period of training. A stipend is not considered compensation for the services expected of an employee.

Grant program

What vaccines are supported by this grant?

This grant supports all efforts for routinely recommended vaccinations, including the COVID-19 vaccine.

Will there be an additional round of grant opportunities being distributed in the future, and how will we know if there are more opportunities available?

At this time, we do not have any information on additional grant opportunities. Check the Wisconsin Public Notices webpage for future funding opportunities.

If vaccine clinics are open to everyone who is interested, including underserved communities and those with insurance and access to health care, would this still fulfill the goals and mission of the grant?

Yes, as long as the event or vaccine clinic is open and inclusive of all communities, especially communities that are hard to reach or are marginalized, then you are fulfilling the goals and mission of this grant to increase routine vaccination uptake in underserved communities.

Can a 1:1 education opportunity be within the context of a doctor’s visit, or does it have to be an outreach event or something equivalent? What if we have an educational flyer on the benefits of vaccination and the doctor provides this to the patient during their 1:1, would that be allowable?

Yes, providing educational materials to a patient during a 1:1 visit or during an outreach event would qualify. If staff time or the visit is reimbursed through this grant, the patient should not be billed, nor should reimbursement be sought elsewhere (for example, through Medicaid or insurance).

Can you provide activities that would be acceptable in the scope of this grant?

Sample activities could include vaccine clinics, door knocking events, educational or community engagement events, training advocates in your community, one-on-one vaccine counseling, or social media campaigns. This list in not comprehensive and we encourage applicants to leverage any number of outreach activities that are appropriately suited to the communities they serve.

What will the reporting cadence be when submitting expense invoices for reimbursements?

The timeline for submitting invoices will be set in the grant agreement and contract and is anticipated to be monthly.

How far back can the reimbursements go?

Reimbursements can only be given for activities that happen during the scope of your contract.

What are the grantee reporting requirements?

Grantees are required to submit monthly invoices, a midpoint report, a final report, and a budget summary.