The Federal Emergency Management Agency has obligated $2.5 million to the U.S. Virgin Islands for costs related to the COVID-19 vaccine mission, FEMA announced Tuesday.
The award provides $2,506,200 in federal funding to the V.I. Department of Health to reimburse costs associated with emergency protective measures taken by the territory to store, handle, transport, distribute and administer vaccines to reduce the spread the of the virus.
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic created an immediate threat to the health and safety of the general public requiring emergency response and protective measures throughout the United States Virgin Islands, said FEMA. In response to the event, the USVI is distributing and administering COVID-19 vaccines to its population via the Vaccine Command Center (VCC) and a network of private healthcare providers, publicly operated vaccination administration centers, and publicly supported vaccination administration centers. The VCC represents more than 32 Territory facilities. The VCC took actions to establish the 34 vaccine sites including but not limited to staffing services, purchasing equipment and materials for the expansion of facility capacity and establishing temporary facilities, the purchase of supplies, transportation, and distribution of personal protective equipment to staff.
Grants for emergency protective measures are funded through FEMA’s Public Assistance program, which reimburses communities for actions taken in the immediate response and during recovery from a disaster. Eligible applicants include states, federally recognized tribal governments, U.S. territories, local governments and certain private non-profit organizations.
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