Vaccines Defend What Matters is TMA’s integrated, multimedia public health education and advocacy effort to overcome vaccine hesitancy and increase vaccination rates in Texas.
At a time when the public is hearing mixed messages about the safety of vaccines, Vaccines Defend What Matters sends a strong message from trusted physician leaders that choosing to be immunized against infectious disease safeguards public health, jobs, schools, and the Texas economy.
As part of this effort, TMA Foundation (TMAF) offers grants of up to $3,500 to fund vaccination activities, educational resources, and community outreach events. County medical societies, TMA Alliance chapters, medical student chapters, and TMA member-physician practices/clinics can apply.
Eligible applicants are expected to be involved in programs or events that either directly provide vaccinations or promote vaccine education. Grants are not limited to but can fund shot clinics to vaccinate underserved and uninsured children, adolescents, and adults, events that educate the public about vaccinations, and/or outreach initiatives that address vaccine hesitancy.
Applicants whose focus is in areas of greatest need will receive priority funding. These include Texas counties with low immunization rates and high rates of conscientious exemptions.
Apply for a Grant
Applications are currently being accepted for the third and final round of the 2022 VDWM local impact grant cycle. The deadline to submit an application is Oct. 1.
A log-in is required for the TMA Foundation grant portal*. Applicants only need to apply once per grant cycle. Funding cannot be used to reimburse for previously held events or activities so applicants should apply in advance of program or event start date (if program or event is grant dependent). Grantees have up to 12 months from receipt to use all awarded funds.
*If you have not previously applied for a grant, you may need to create an account. This portal is different from your TMA website login.
Questions? Email us for more information. You may also call our office at (512) 370-1664 and leave a message. There may be a delayed response time as we are working from home during the pandemic. Additional TMA Foundation Grants
THANK YOU to All Recent Grant Recipients
2022 Round One:
- UT Southwestern TMA Medical Student Chapter (Dallas) – Plans to provide vaccine education and administer influenza and shingles vaccines at their student-run clinic, Brother Bill’s Helping Hand. The clinic serves West Dallas and Oak Cliff, where a substantial proportion of their patients are uninsured or underinsured.
- Spring Branch Community Health Center (Houston) - Plans to provide vaccines necessary to enter school for children ages 4-18 and the HPV vaccine for children ages 9-18 at their annual Back to School Vaccine Drive. Health educational materials and school supplies will be distributed during the event.
- University of North Texas Health Science Center Foundation (Fort Worth) - Aims to provide vaccine education and administer influenza vaccines at the Refugee Health Fair and at flu clinics held for underserved communities in Tarrant County, as part of the Refugee Health Initiative.
2022 Round Two:
- UT Health San Antonio TMA Medical Student Chapter – Plans to host a vaccine drive event with the local student-run Alpha Home Clinic to administer influenza vaccines and provide vaccine education to residents at Alpha Home.
- Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine TMA Medical Student Chapter – Will have vaccine educational events at various homeless shelters in Montgomery County and Harris County and will host a vaccine drive at the Salvation Army Greater Houston Area Command Corps Community Care Center to provide tetanus and influenza vaccines to unhoused individuals.
- Lubbock County Medical Society Alliance/South Plains Immunization Network – Plans to hold a free flu clinic at the South Plains Food Bank to vaccinate food insecure, low-income adults in Lubbock County and surrounding areas against the flu.
- Lone Star Family Health Center (Conroe) - Aims to prepare school-aged children from age 4 through 12th grade to start the school year healthy by providing access to well-child visits and vaccinations through the annual “Don’t Miss the Bus!” event followed by a 2-week vaccination clinic. Well-child visits will be covered for the uninsured pediatric population.
- Hope Clinic/Get Up Project (Austin) - Seeks to offer free flu vaccinations, provide free medical exams, and educate about importance of getting annual flu vaccine to medically underserved patients at the Hope Clinic, whose patients are typically resettled refugees and immigrants.
- Bell County Medical Society (Belton) - Plans to provide vaccine education and administer influenza vaccinations to underserved, uninsured patients in Bell County and surrounding communities at The Body of Christ Clinic.
- HOMES Clinic, Healthcare for the Homeless (Houston) - Seeks to increase access to vaccinations for individuals with unstable housing and the homeless population in Houston. Plans to host 2 vaccination events at the Healthcare for the Homeless – Houston clinic to provide influenza, Hepatitis A/B, and SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations.
- Bexar County Medical Society (San Antonio) - Aims to disseminate information on COVID-19 vaccines and booster education among the unvaccinated/unboostered population in underserved areas at “Ask a Doctor” events, in collaboration with Metro Health or other local health organizations hosting vaccination clinics. At the events, BCMS Booster Bags containing masks, hand sanitizer, Band-Aids, and educational information on COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters will be distributed.
- Texas Tech University Health Science Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine TMA Medical Student Chapter (El Paso) - Plans to improve general knowledge of vaccines and administer influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations to patients seen at the student-run RotaCare clinic that mainly treats the underserved population.
- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine TMA Medical Student Chapter (Lubbock) - Plans to administer free HPV vaccine series to uninsured students at Texas Tech University and provide information on where to get HPV vaccinations to insured students to combat low HPV vaccination rates.
- El Paso Pediatric Associates, PA – Plans to educate families on the importance of vaccines and provide flu vaccinations at the “Healthy Halloween Health Fair” event to combat vaccine hesitancy.
- North Dallas Shared Ministries – Seeks to ensure full vaccination against pneumococcal disease for patients seen at the student-run NDSM medical clinic. Plans to administer single-dose Prevnar 20 vaccine and provide educational materials.
Vaccines Defend What Matters Information