Salinas Announces Federal Grant to Health Clinics in Salem, Portland

Today, U.S. House Representative Andrea Salinas (OR-06) announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued awards to two local health centers as part of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Bridge Access Program, which aims to ensure that uninsured and underinsured American adults continue to have access to free COVID-19 vaccinations. The awardees, Northwest Human Services in Salem and Neighborhood Health Center in Portland, will receive $20,694 and $40,572 respectively.

“As fall fast approaches, we must ensure that our communities are protected against a potential spike of COVID-19 cases,” said Rep. Salinas. “The CDC’s Bridge Access Program will guarantee that uninsured and underinsured Oregonians can access the COVID-19 vaccine at no-cost to them or their family. By providing crucial support to local health centers, we can meet people where they are and strengthen the overall health and wellbeing of our communities.”

According to the Oregon Health Authority’s 2021 Health Insurance Survey, approximately 4.6% of people in Oregon are uninsured. The lack of health insurance is highest among Latino and Indigenous communities, with approximately 10.8% of Oregon’s Latino community uninsured during the time of the survey.

Click here to learn more about the CDC’s Bridge Access Program.

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