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
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Round 1
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Round 2
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Round 3
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| Grants Portal Opens
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Dec. 7, 2026
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Mar. 29, 2027
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July 5, 2027
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| Application Deadline
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Feb. 12, 2027
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May 21, 2027
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Aug. 20, 2027
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| Decision Notification
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Mar. 19, 2027
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June 25, 2027
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Sept. 24, 2027
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A log-in is required for the TMA Foundation grant portal*. After creating an account through the grant portal you will be able to access the application. Applicants only need to apply once per grant cycle. 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.
Funding cannot be used to reimburse for previously held events or activities, applicants should apply in advance of program or event start date (if program or event is grant dependent). Funds will be released upon completion of the grant agreement and grantees have up to 12 months from receipt to use all awarded funds.
Submission of a final grant report is required upon completion of the program or event. The grant report is used for both evaluation of the program or event’s measurable outcomes, and an opportunity for grant recipients to provide additional accomplishments toward local impact.
Examples of the application and final grant report questions are provided to assist in your responses.
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 2026 Grant Recipients
Round Three
Christian Community Health Services (Tarrant County)
The bi-weekly, medical student-run Beautiful Feet Clinic with Christian Community Health Services will use grant funds to administer free Tdap and pneumococcal vaccines to the unhoused population of Fort Worth. Medical students will also provide vaccine education to patients when determining vaccine eligibility. The clinic also offers flu, Td, and hepatitis B vaccines to eligible patients.
CHRISTUS Health – Mount Pleasant Foundation (Titus County)
In October, CHRISTUS Health – Mount Pleasant Foundation will host the Tennison Health Fair. At this event, they will provide free health screenings and adult flu vaccinations to uninsured, underinsured, and indigent residents of Titus County and surrounding communities. The goal of this project is to help reduce barriers to preventive care and protect vulnerable residents from vaccine-preventable illnesses.
Lirios Pediatrics (Travis County)
Lirios Pediatrics is a nonprofit clinic dedicated to improving the health of uninsured children by providing free, high-quality, and equitable care. They offer essential services including well-child visits, chronic disease management, mental health care, and vaccinations. They plan to host six flu vaccination clinics in the fall and offer flu vaccinations during routine preventive visits through flu season.
The C.V. Roman Medical Society (Dallas County)
The C.V. Roman Medical Society will conduct up to two physician-led community vaccine education sessions and digital education through social media for under-resourced and uninsured children, adolescents, adults, and older adults in Dallas County. Physicians will develop an approximately five-minute vaccine education. In-person sessions will include the video, a live physician-led Ask-a-Doc/Q&A, and TMA-approved materials. The approved video will also support digital vaccine education through The C.V. Roman Medical Society's social media platforms. Parkland Health's mobile immunization unit, pending confirmation, may independently provide vaccines on-site.
University of Texas Medical Branch – Family Medicine Interest Group (Galveston County)
The Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) at UTMB will host their Helping Hands Vaccine Drives to increase access to flu vaccinations for children and adults in Galveston. The initiative will provide free flu vaccines to uninsured, underinsured, and unhoused community members who face barriers to care. FMIG will collaborate with community organizations and local businesses to host ten flu vaccine events throughout Galveston.
University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) - McGovern Medical School (Project in Cameron County)
Frontera de Salud of UT Health is a student-led community health initiative that provides free health screenings, education, and referrals to under-resourced populations on their annual mission trip to Brownsville. In partnership with local health organizations and utilizing the TMA vaccine education materials, they will offer free flu shots for adults and distribute culturally appropriate educational materials on vaccines for all age groups. Through this project, Fronter de Salud aims to address vaccine hesitancy, increase access to vaccinations, and improve immunization rates among uninsured and medically underserved residents.
Williamson County and Cities Health District
This new grantee will use grant funds to provide varicella vaccines alongside other vaccines that are offered through the Adult Safety Net program. The project will specifically serve adult patients who are uninsured or underinsured and eligible for varicella vaccination. Patients will be offered the varicella vaccine during clinic visits. Providing varicella vaccine alongside other vaccines will help reduce downstream barriers, including additional time off work, transportation needs, scheduling challenges, and delays in achieving full protection.
Round Two
Brother Bill’s Helping Hand Student Run Free Clinic (Dallas County)
Brother Bill’s Helping Hand (BBHH) will provide vaccine education and administer vaccines through their bi-weekly, student-run free clinic. BBHH engages community members in one-on-one interactive vaccine education adapted to a 5th grade reading level and translated into Spanish. If patients want a vaccine after the session, they will provide free flu, Tdap, Hepatitis B, COVID-19, and shingles vaccines. Additionally, they will host their annual flu drive in October.
UT Dell Medical School TMA/AMA Student Chapter (Travis County)
Manor Free Clinic (MFC), in partnership with the University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School TMA/AMA chapter, will host three vaccination clinics in Manor this fall. The clinics will provide free COVID-19, Tdap, meningococcal, pneumonia, shingles, and HPV vaccines to uninsured patients or those facing barriers to care. This is a new MFC program, staffed by medical students, community volunteers, Austin Community College RN-to-BSN students and faculty, resident physicians, social workers, and a supervising physician.
Frontera de Salud (Galveston County)
The Frontera de Salud (FdS) at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (UTMB Health) Frontera de Vacuna Drive will provide free flu vaccinations to populations in Galveston. In collaboration with local community organizations, multiple vaccination events will be held throughout flu season to serve financially disadvantaged, uninsured or underinsured, and unhoused community members. Vaccine events will occur in multiple locations in Galveston.
HOMES Clinic, Healthcare for the Homeless (Harris County)
The HOMES Clinic is a student-run clinic in Houston dedicated exclusively to serving uninsured individuals experiencing homelessness or unstable housing. They will provide flu, pneumococcal, and Tdap vaccines at two fall vaccine events during their Sunday clinics. Under the supervision of TMA-member physicians, medical students will screen every patient for vaccine eligibility and provide counseling.
Hope Clinic/Get Up Project (Travis County)
Hope Clinic will provide free flu vaccinations to adults who are uninsured in the Austin area. By offering vaccines during all open clinic hours, patients can receive flu shots during regular appointments, reducing the need for extra trips. They will also provide education on the importance of receiving an annual flu vaccination. Education will be provided in multiple languages to reduce barriers created by limited English proficiency.
Lone Star Family Health Center (Montgomery County)
At Lone Star Family Health Center’s (LSFHC) annual Don't Miss the Bus! program, well-child checkups, immunizations, health education, backpacks, and school supplies will be provided to under-resourced pediatric patients in Pre-K through 12th grade. They will also provide vaccinations during this two-week program. Through this program, LSFHC aims to prevent communicable diseases among their patient population.
Love to Share Foundation America (Brazoria County)
Love to Share Foundation America will host the Life & Soul 2026 Community Health Fair, a one-day preventive health outreach initiative designed to improve access to essential health care services for uninsured and under-resourced populations in the Manvel/southeast Houston area. The program will provide free health screenings, health education, and vaccinations. The purpose of the health fair is to reduce barriers to care, promote early detection of chronic and preventable diseases, and increase overall community health awareness.
Lubbock County Medical Society Alliance/South Plains Immunization Network
This program will host several flu clinics in low-income areas of Lubbock. One of the flu clinics will be at First Baptist Church in Lubbock during South Plains Food Bank's food distribution time. Clients can receive vaccinations at the Lubbock Public Health (LPH) bus in the parking lot and receive food from the South Plains Food Bank. There will also be flu clinics at Open Door, which provides resources for those experiencing homelessness, and Lubbock Impact, which provides resources for the working poor. The final flu clinic will be at Carpenter's Kitchen, which serves lunch on Sundays to those experiencing homelessness.
Sam Houston State University (Montgomery County)
The Sam Houston State University (SHSU) Russell and Glenda Gordy College of Osteopathic Medicine Mobile Health Unit (MHU) aims to increase access to preventive health care and vaccine-preventable cancer prevention services for medically underserved women in rural and under-resourced communities throughout eastern Texas. The program will utilize SHSU Gordy College of Osteopathic Medicine’s Mobile Health Unit to bring evidence-based preventive care and HPV vaccinations directly into communities facing significant barriers to health care access, including transportation challenges, provider shortages, and high rates of uninsured or underinsured residents.
The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley School of Medicine (Hidalgo County)
The Multi-Event Rio Grande Valley Vaccine Fair and Student Run Free Clinic (SRFC), organized by several student-run organizations of the UTRGV School of Medicine, will provide free flu, Tdap, MMR, HPV, and pneumococcal vaccinations to uninsured patients in the region. By offering free vaccines, the program will address significant gaps in immunization coverage.
Through this event, UTRGV School of Medicine hopes to foster long-term community wellness by increasing vaccine literacy and expanding care for the most under-resourced populations in the Rio Grande Valley.
Union Gospel Mission Shelter Clinics (Dallas County)
The Pediatric Health Fair, in partnership with Union Gospel Mission’s Center of Hope, aims to increase immunization rates, provide preventative care for at-risk youth in the Southwestern Medical District, and increase health and vaccination knowledge in this community. The event will take place in August and provide free immunizations, well-child general and vision exams, and health education to children and women facing homelessness. Volunteer physicians, medical students, and allied health professionals will staff the event. Interactive booths will focus on nutrition, vaccination, developmental milestones, hygiene, and disease prevention education. Patients will also be connected with other Dallas-based resources for follow-up care.
University of North Texas Health Science Center Foundation (Tarrant County)
Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (TCOM) students will host a health fair in collaboration with the Refugee Health Initiative (RHI) clinic. This event will provide a variety of services, including flu vaccinations, as well as other vaccinations provided by Tarrant County Public Health, sports physicals for kids, and health education. TCOM students will also host two additional flu clinics with RHI and administer vaccines with UNT Health’s HOME Clinic, UNT Health’s Street Medicine Student Coalition, Cornerstone Assistance Network, and UNT Health’s Walk with a Doc.
West Texas Health Policy and Public Health Think Tank (Lubbock County)
The Texas Tech University (TTU) System Public Health Think Tank will host a free flu shot clinic at multiple locations in Lubbock. The events will serve uninsured and under-resourced adults in zip codes experiencing the greatest need. In partnership with the Lubbock Public Health Department, the clinic will be staffed by student volunteers from TTU Health Sciences Center’s Schools of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Professions, under the supervision of licensed medical professionals. The event will also include bilingual (English and Spanish) educational materials and vaccine outreach efforts to increase flu awareness and reduce vaccine hesitancy. By combining direct community service with student-led engagement, this project seeks to improve public health while training the next generation of health care providers.
Round One
UTMB TMA Medical Student Chapter (Galveston County)
The UTMB TMA Medical Student Chapter will provide free Tdap and flu vaccinations to individuals who are uninsured and medically underserved in the Galveston community through a student-run clinic. The initiative the initiative will also provide vaccine education through culturally appropriate materials, workshops, and digital outreach. The program is designed to improve immunization rates, increase preventive health knowledge, and reduce disparities in vaccine access across underserved communities in southeast Texas.
Spring Branch Community Health Center (Harris County)
The SBCHC will provide vaccinations and school supplies to children who are uninsured, enrolled in Medicaid/CHIP, and of low income in the Houston Metro Area through its annual Back-to-School Vaccine Drives. Partnering with community organizations, the SBCHC aims to increase immunization rates and support school readiness.
Bell County Medical Society
BCMS will provide free flu vaccinations to adults who are uninsured, and underserved, and of low income in Bell County through its annual flu-shot clinic. In addition to the flu clinics, the project will offer bilingual educational materials in English and Spanish to increase vaccine awareness and reduce the spread of the flu.
People’s Community Clinic (Travis County)
People’s Community Clinic will provide free flu vaccinations to adults who are uninsured during two fall vaccine drives in Austin to prevent the flu and resulting complications. The mission of People’s Community Clinic is to improve the health of the medically underserved and uninsured in Central Texas by providing high quality, affordable healthcare with dignity and respect.
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