Pfizer hosted a series of training sessions this week to review information and answer questions about their COVID-19 vaccine this week - there are two more chances to attend the sessions today!

Please click on the link below to join the sessions at the designated times.

Password: GawpMXB2X95 

Password: w3kBrP9ReU3 

Join the TN Department of Health for a weekly open Q&A webinar hour for health care professionals to ask questions about the Tennessee COVID-19 vaccine allocation and distribution plan and COVID-19 vaccines.

On December 12, 2020, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) issued an interim recommendation for use of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in persons aged ≥16 years for the prevention of COVID-19.

TDH has put together a set of resources including FAQs and information about getting the second dose of the vaccine. These are being updated frequently. TDH is interested to know if there are additional resources or messages that you need for your providers or patients.

TPCA and other groups have already provided some suggestions but if you think of something you need, please reach out to libby.thurman@tnpca.org and we will pass the message on to TDH.

TPCA created a COVID-19 Resources page that contains information and tools for health centers and the general public on a variety of COVID-19 related topics including TPCA’s COVID-19 Updates, human resources & operations, telehealth, and PPE.

We would like to announce that Sharon Crawford, Chief Programs Officer, will be leaving TPCA, effective December 31, 2020.

It has been an honor to work with Sharon for the past eight years ­­in

serving our state's community health centers, and we wish her the best in future endeavors!

If you have training, TA, or other health care access inquiries, please contact Shatiqua Jamerson. Please reach out to Ashley Pasquariello for any matters concerning HCCN.

Congress continues to negotiate a year-end spending package after passing a one-week continuing resolution to keep the federal government funded through December 18, the deadline when health center funding will also expire. Congressional leadership indicated that any additional COVID-19 relief legislation would be wrapped up in a larger government funding package and that Congress wouldn’t adjourn for the holidays until some form of COVID-19 relief is passed.

NACHC sent a letter to Members of Congress outlining community health center funding priorities including emergency COVID-19 funding, funding for the COVID-19 vaccine, and a long-term extension of funding for health center programs. TPCA and many health centers have also been advocating with Members of Congress this week for the inclusion of health center funding in the larger spending package.

Congratulations to Christ Community Health Services for their Award of Excellence from Gov. Bill Lee for their quick deployment of emergency management protocols related to the pandemic.

The newest Connectus Health Midwifery clinic location opened on Monday, December 7th and offers Midwifery care and women's health services in the Ascension Medical Group St. Thomas clinic space in Lenox Village.