State gets $87.4M for vaccinations

HONOLULU — The Federal Emergency Management Agency granted the state $87.4 million to open multiple, state-led, community-vaccination sites.

This reimbursement grant will be managed by Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency, state Department of Health and state Department of Budget & Finance.

These funds will cover expenses for medical and support staff, personal-protective equipment, facility costs and supplies required to store, handle, transport and administer vaccines, and efforts to share public information regarding vaccinations.

The $87.4 million represents 50% of Hawai‘i’s estimate of the cost of to administer the statewide vaccination program for the first 90 days.

With proper documentation, the grant will reimburse the state for eligible expenses to distribute and administer the COVID-19 vaccines to its population. The state is coordinating with the counties and various health-care organizations to gather eligible vaccine expenditures to file for monthly reimbursements.

Qualified health-care organizations also have the option to apply for reimbursements directly with FEMA.

The Stafford Act Public Assistance program provides disaster assistance to states, tribes, local governments and certain private, nonprofit organizations following a presidential disaster declaration to quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies.

One of HI-EMA’s core values is malama — to care for or protect.

Remember to wash, mask and distance, and do all possible to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.