Monday, January 11, 2021 by Carl Lisciandrello (WUSF)
Photo: Florida Department of Health
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A church in Tampa has begun to administer the coronavirus vaccine as part of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ effort to have county health departments partner with churches and make the vaccine available in underserved communities.
According to a Florida Department of Health news release, the St. John’s Progressive Missionary Church in Tampa began administering the vaccine on Sunday.
More than 500 senior citizens receive COVID-19 vaccine at Tampa church
By Justin Matthews and FOX 13 News Staff
Published
Justin Matthews reports
TAMPA, Fla. - On Sunday, 590 senior citizens received their first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at St. John s Progressive Missionary Baptist Church.
The Florida Department of Health says the church is a new vaccination site that was opened in conjunction with the city of Tampa and the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
Our communities of color face a double challenge, said Dr. Douglas Holt, director DOH-Hillsborough. They have a higher chance of being infected. That has a lot to do with being essential workers; being out in the community and don t have a choice to work from home.
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Coronavirus vaccines are administered at the St. John’s Progressive Missionary Baptist Church in Tampa on Jan. 10, 2021.
The church, in the College Hill neighborhood of Tampa, vaccinated 590 people with their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
A church in Tampa has begun to administer the coronavirus vaccine as part of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ effort to have county health departments partner with churches and make the vaccine available in underserved communities.
According to a Florida Department of Health news release, the St. John’s Progressive Missionary Church in Tampa began administering the vaccine on Sunday.
The church, located at 2504 Chipco St. in the College Hill neighborhood of Tampa, vaccinated 590 people with their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
Florida Churches Join COVID-19 Vaccination Effort PUBLISHED 5:02 PM ET Jan. 10, 2021 PUBLISHED 5:02 PM EST Jan. 10, 2021
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HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. Nearly one week ago, the Rev. Bartholomew Banks tried and failed to sign up for a COVID-19 vaccine.
What You Need To Know
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced a new COVID-19 vaccine initiative Sunday
As part of the plan, 50 churches in seven cities will be distributing the vaccine
500 people were vaccinated at St. John Progressive Missionary Baptist Church Sunday
“And while I’m sitting in the church, on the front pew, feeling despondent that I could not get an appointment, I got a call from the mayor, asking if I’d allow my church to be a pilot site to get the vaccine into the community,” he recalled.
TAMPA The vaccine registration website crashed right after it went live Monday morning in Hillsborough County, leaving the phone callers on hold for hours, cut off mid-conversation or dropped entirely as the only option. And with only 9,000 doses of the coveted vaccine available, those living in Tampa’s most underserved communities never had a prayer. But on Sunday morning, the vaccine .