LOS ANGELES (CNS) — A nonprofit organization that provides affordable health care at five centers to low-income and uninsured Los Angeles residents announced today that it will use a $75,000 grant to expand efforts to distribute COVID-19 vaccinations within the county's Latino and Black communities.

"COVID-19 hit low-income and, particularly members of Latino and Black communities of Los Angeles, very hard. Unfortunately, these communities have the lowest vaccination rates,'' said Eloisa Perard, CEO and president of QueensCare Health Centers. "LA Care's grant will help us ensure our vaccination efforts reach those most in need of protection from this dangerous virus.''

The grant will allow QueensCare Health Centers to expand vaccination clinic sites within the community and to work toward the organization's goal of providing 190,000 vaccinations to Los Angeles communities of color, she said.

The grant is part of a $1.95 million initiative announced earlier this year by LA Care Health Plan to expand vaccine distribution efforts in communities of color.