WASHINGTON — As the nation enters the coldest months of the winter season with high rates of hospitalization due to COVID-19 and one of the worst flu seasons on record, the need to get vaccinated is at a critical point. To combat rising hospitalization rates among older adults and people with disabilities for both COVID-19 and the flu — two groups that are known to experience the most severe illness from these two conditions — Lutheran Services in America is pleased to announce that it is a partner in the Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative, a $75 million initiative funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living to provide outreach, technical assistance and support to promote vaccination uptake.

Led by USAging, the Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative will distribute funds to enable organizations across the aging and disability networks to perform an array of vaccination promotion activities. Organizations selected for funding will host community vaccine clinics, provide in-home vaccinations, offer transportation to vaccination sites and conduct outreach and education to older adults and people with disabilities among other activities.

“Lutheran Services in America recognizes the vital role that community-based nonprofit organizations play in encouraging older adults and people with disabilities to get vaccinated,” said Charlotte Haberaecker, president and CEO of Lutheran Services in America. “We welcome the opportunity to partner with USAging and more than 20 national organizations that empower older adults and people with disabilities, including those that support individuals from historically marginalized and underserved communities, to promote vaccination uptake to the populations that are at greatest risk of severe illness and hospitalization due to COVID-19 and the flu.”

Organizations seeking to apply to receive funds to support their local vaccination outreach activities will be able to apply to receive funding through the Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative at www.usaging.org/advc as early as this week. Learn more about this effort and our work with older adults and people with disabilities at Lutheran Services in America.

Members of the Aging and Disability Vaccination Collaborative

Lead Partners

• USAging (convener)
• ADvancing States
• Association of University Centers on Disabilities
• Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU)

Partners

• Lutheran Services in America
• American Association of Service Coordinators
• Association of Programs for Rural Independent Living
• AT3 Center
• Autism Society of America
• Diverse Elders Coalition
• Meals on Wheels America
• National Adult Day Services Association
• National Asian Pacific Center on Aging
• National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
• National Association of Nutrition and Aging Service Providers
• National Caucus and Center on Black Aging
• National Council on Independent Living
• National Disability Rights Network
• National Hispanic Council on Aging
• National Indian Council on Aging
• SAGE: Advocacy & Services for LGBTQ+ Elders
• The Partnership for Inclusive Disaster Strategies

About Lutheran Services in America
Lutheran Services in America is a national network of 300 health and human services organizations that reaches one in 50 people in the United States each year. Recognized by The Chronicle of Philanthropy and Forbes as one of the nation’s top nonprofit organizations, the Lutheran Services in America network operates with more than $23 billion in combined annual revenue. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Lutheran Services in America leads innovative collaborations with its member organizations and partners in philanthropy, academia, healthcare and business to address the most critical challenges in our communities and empower people to lead their best lives.

To learn more, visit lutheranservices.org or find us on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.