CHICAGO – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Minnesota Department of Public Safety Homeland Security and Emergency Management division (DPS-HSEM) announced today that $8,500,000 in federal funding has been made available to the Minnesota Department of Health for costs related to the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic under the federal disaster declaration of April 7, 2020.
This funding will reimburse the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for costs associated with the rapid distribution and administration of available COVID-19 vaccines at 72 vaccination centers throughout the state. These costs include vaccine administration, a vaccine messaging campaign, community vaccinators, immunization community coordinators, a call center, and transportation to the vaccination sites for those with limited mobility.
“FEMA’s Public Assistance Program is a critical resource in support of state vaccine distribution efforts,” said Kevin M. Sligh, acting regional administrator, FEMA Region 5. “Our priority is supporting our state partners and helping to ensure anyone who wants a vaccine in Minnesota can get one.”
“Our mission is to ensure that anyone who is eligible and wants a vaccine, is able to receive one,” said DPS-HSEM Director Joe Kelly. “We are pleased to work with our MDH and FEMA partners to ensure vaccine distribution is as equitable as possible throughout Minnesota.”
FEMA provides a 100 percent federal share of eligible reimbursable expenses for this project.
FEMA’s Public Assistance Program provides funding to local government jurisdictions and eligible private non-profits for the repair, replacement, or restoration of disaster-damaged infrastructure as well as costs incurred for emergency actions taken to protect lives or property. To learn more, visit FEMA’s website at www.fema.gov/public-assistance-local-state-tribal-and-non-profit. For more information about FEMA’s COVID-19 vaccine support efforts, visit www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/vaccine-support.
FEMA's mission is helping people before, during, and after disasters.