Washington, D.C. - Congresswoman Ashley Hinson today announced that federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in Iowa's First Congressional District are slated to receive COVID-19 vaccines directly from the federal government as the result of her efforts. Last month, Hinson led the entire Iowa House Delegation in a letter to the Biden Administration urging them to include Iowa's FQHCs in their direct vaccination partnership program.
"Iowa's FQHCs are up to the task of distributing the COVID-19 vaccine to Iowans, especially those in rural or underserved areas who have had trouble accessing the vaccine. After visiting and receiving direct input from Iowa's FQHCs, I led my fellow Iowa House Members in asking the Biden Administration to ensure our FQHCs received doses of the vaccine from the federal government. I am grateful for the Biden Administration's quick response and effort to help get more Iowans vaccinated. I will keep working with anyone and everyone to get more COVID-19 vaccines to Iowa so that our economy and country can get back on the right track."-Congresswoman Ashley Hinson
"We are grateful for Representative Hinson and the full Iowa House of Representatives delegation for their advocacy on behalf of Iowa community health centers' participation in this program," said Aaron Todd, CEO of the Iowa Primary Care Association. "Community health centers have played a vital role in caring for vulnerable and underserved communities throughout this devastating pandemic. Direct vaccine distributions to additional community health centers will ensure that more Iowans will receive vaccines sooner, including populations disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. We appreciate the focus on equitable access to vaccines and are committed to working with state and local governments to magnify our collective impact."
The below FQHCs in Iowa's First Congressional District will receive vaccines from the federal government in the next six weeks:
Eastern Iowa Health Center, Cedar Rapids
Crescent Community Health Center, Dubuque
Primary Health Care, with locations in Marshalltown
Hinson visited Crescent Community Health Center in February and discovered the need for FQHC's to receive COVID-19 vaccine doses from the federal government in order to help more Iowans get vaccinated.