TMA Grants to Help Your Practice Improve Local Vaccination Rates

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  

The application cycle has closed and the grantees have already been chosen. Please come back late 2023 for updates on the next cycle!

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) 370-1412 and leave a message.  Additional TMA Foundation Grants

 THANK YOU to All Recent Grant Recipients

Round One

• Galaxy Health
  The El Paso Physician is a project designed to reach multiple target audiences through the use of public television. The funded episode called “Everything You Need to Know About Vaccines” will discuss the importance of vaccines and will feature detailed explanations of the health issues from physicians who are guests on the show.  Viewers email their questions for the physicians to address live during the program. The program is broadcast live the last Thursday of each month on KCOS-TV, El Paso's public television station. 
• Lubbock County Medical Society Alliance/ South Plains Immunization Network
  The objective of the project is to help protect the low income and unhoused population of Lubbock County and the surrounding area against the flu. They plan 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.
• Spring Branch Community Health Center
  Aim to provide vaccines to uninsured, low-income children in need, so they are up-to-date on their vaccines. Hope to quell vaccine hesitancy by educating participants on the importance of maintaining up-to-date vaccines for people of all ages. Additionally, will provide vaccinated children with a new backpack filled with school supplies, preparing them for the first day of class. 
• University of North Texas Health Science Center Foundation
  Plans on being a part of a multi-organization health fair, led by RHI, specifically for refugees, hosted by their local hospital. This event will provide a variety of services such as sports physicals for the kids, Hepatitis B screening, vaccinations for HPV and the flu, and health education. 
• Health For All
  Aim to improve community health and reduce the cost of indigent health care by providing an alternative to the emergency room for low-income, medically uninsured patients. Health For All plans to administer 80 tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap) vaccinations to patients during the duration of the program. 
• Bexar County Medical Library Association
  Taking place in the Fall, this program will provide vaccination education, information on vaccination clinics, and community outreach on vaccination hesitancy by collaborating with community and state partners through their "Ask a Doctor" program.  

Round Two

• Hope Clinic/ Get Up Project
  Plans to offer free flu vaccinations to patients, adult family members, and underserved adults in the community. Will also provide free medical exams and educate on the importance of annual flu vaccines to the medically underserved patients at Hope Clinic, who are usually resettled refugees or immigrants.  
• University of Texas Medical Branch TMA Medical Student Chapter
  Plans to improve vaccination rates and access for the medically underserved by providing PCV20 vaccinations for the underserved population in the Galveston community.
• Lone Star Family Health Center
  Aims to provide well-child visits and immunizations to at least 250 children over the course of two weeks. 
• HOMES Clinic, Healthcare for the Homeless - Houston
  Aims to provide influenza and Tdap booster vaccines to individuals with unstable housing in downtown Houston. 
• TTUHSC SOM TMA/AMA Chapter
  Plans to provide free influenza vaccinations to the underserved communities within Lubbock - many of whom are impoverished, unhoused, and uninsured. 
• UT Southwestern TMA Medical Student Section
  Plans to provide vaccine education and administer vaccines through the SRFC, which runs bi-weekly and serves 8-10 patients per clinic. Will engage community members in 1:1 interactive vaccine education adapted to a 5th grade reading level and translated to Spanish.
• Bell County Medical Society
  Seeks to provide flu vaccines for uninsured, underserved individuals in Bell County. Through a partnership with The Body of Christ Clinic, they will host a flu vaccine clinic in order to administer vaccines to the community. 
• University of Texas Medical Branch Family Medicine Interest Group
  Aims to provide free influenza vaccines to the disadvantaged populations of Galveston, Texas. This will be achieved through collaborations with UTMB student organizations, Galveston community organizations, and local businesses to set up vaccination clinics throughout Galveston. 
• Bexar County Medical Library Association
  Taking place in the Spring, this program will provide vaccination education, information at vaccination clinics, and community outreach on vaccination hesitancy by collaborating with community partners through their "Ask a Doctor" program. BCMS will provide key messaging and resources on vaccination hesitancy not just to their physician membership but also to many nurse practitioners, pharmacists, nurses and front-line responders. 
• UT Health Science Center San Antonio
  HepShield is a vaccination program in South Texas that strives to increase vaccination against HBV, particularly among adults who are at high-risk and who come from under-resourced backgrounds. This vaccination program aims to provide free HBV vaccinations to eligible adults in South Texas, many of whom have immigrated from Asian and African countries. 
• Love to Share Foundation America
  Life and Soul health fair is conducted annually to empower local communities with health screenings. During this event a vaccine drive will be hosted and participants will be screened for flu shot eligibility. The event will be conducted at New Life Plaza and intends to serve the underserved residents of Brazoria, Harris, Galveston, Fort Bend Counties. Participants can also benefit from screenings for cardiovascular risk factors like cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, body mass index.

Vaccines Defend What Matters Information