NEW YORK – The US Department of Health and Human Services announced Wednesday the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will provide more than $22 billion to states, localities, and territories to expand COVID-19 testing and vaccinations.
According to the agency, more than $19 billion will be allocated through the CDC's Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity cooperative agreement to support testing, contact tracing, surveillance, containment, and mitigation to monitor the spread of COVID-19. Each state, Washington, D.C., five major cities, and US territories will receive funding "allocated by a population-based formula," the agency said in a statement. The five cities are New York City, Los Angeles County, Chicago, Houston, and Philadelphia.
In addition, more than $3 billion will be awarded through the CDC's Immunization and Vaccines for Children cooperative agreement for vaccination-related activities.
The funding will be awarded before Jan. 19, the agency added.
"This funding is another timely investment that will strengthen our nation's efforts to stop the COVID-19 pandemic in America," CDC Director Robert Redfield said in the statement. "Particularly now, it is crucial that states and communities have the resources they need to conduct testing, and to distribute and administer safe, high-quality COVID-19 vaccines safely and equitably."