Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) today announced it has distributed $480,000 in funding to help organizations around the state increase access to immunizations.
BCBSIL is providing grants between $20,000 and $50,000 to 12 organizations with aligned missions to increase the rates of immunizations as part of the BCBSIL Care Van® Immunization Initiative. The BCBSIL Care Van program is celebrating it’s 30th year of providing access to immunizations and other health services in Illinois. BCBSIL is reminding Illinoisans not to put off needed health screenings and preventive services, like immunizations, through the Wellness Can’t Wait campaign. A recent Health of America report by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association estimates children nationwide will have missed nearly 9 million MMR, DTaP and polio vaccinations this year due to COVID-19.
Organizations receiving funding include:
Albertsons*, serving Peoria, Springfield, Bloomington and Decatur
Aunt Martha’s, serving Joliet, Aurora, Kankakee and Rockford
Bi-County Health Department, serving Franklin and Williamson counties
Chicago Family Health Center, serving Chicago’s Pullman neighborhood
Crossing Health Care, serving Decatur
Inner- City Muslim Action Network (IMAN), serving Chicago
Lawndale Christian Health Center, serving Chicago
Sinai Health System, serving Chicago
SIHF Healthcare, serving Saint Clair County
SIU Center for Family Medicine, serving Springfield and Decatur
Southern Seven Health Department, serving Alexander, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope, Pulaski and Union counties
Trilogy Behavioral Healthcare, serving Chicago and Skokie
Each organization receiving funding has an existing program that provides immunizations to people whether or not they have health insurance. The awardees can use the grant to maximize the reach of their programs by doing things such as hiring a nurse, purchasing additional vaccines or increasing their marketing to make more people aware of when and where they are offering services.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) is committed to expanding access to quality, cost-effective health care to as many people as possible in Illinois. BCBSIL is dedicated to innovation and exploring, nurturing and activating future possibilities to make the health care system work better for our members and our communities. BCBSIL is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Learn more at bcbsil.com and follow us on twitter and Facebook.
SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois
