Kelly Hayes
A local pharmacy stationed in East Tampa will start administering the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, Tampa Democratic Rep. Dianne Hart announced Tuesday.
Hart partnered with Dr. Vondalyn Wright, who owns Health Matters pharmacy in East Tampa, to organize the distribution of the vaccine in a predominately African American part of Hillsborough County.
“I am so excited to announce that East Tampa can begin to receive the COVID-19 vaccine from a locally known pharmacist,” Hart said in a statement. It is my hope that this will help the community feel at ease about receiving the vaccine. African-Americans have been hit hard by this virus and it is important that our communities have access to this life-saving vaccine.”
Appointments can be made at the pharmacy by calling 813-800-6337 or online at healthmattersrx.com. The Health Matters pharmacy is located at 1702 N, 50th St., Suite C in Tampa.
“As a pharmacist in the East Tampa Community I’m happy to be a part of the solution. Our patients are happy to know their local pharmacist whom they trust is giving out vaccines,” Wright said in a statement. “We are willing and ready to vaccinate the most vulnerable in our community, we’re even offering mobile services. It is our hope that this is a step forward to ending the COVID-19 pandemic.”
So far, Hillsborough County has seen 329,720 individuals vaccinated, including 155,404 who are fully protected. Those who are fully vaccinated are comprised of 17,304 people who received the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, and 138,100 who have completed a two shot series.
Despite the rise in vaccinations, the county has reported a slight uptick in COVID-19 cases, confirming its highest COVID-19 positivity rate in nearly two months last Sunday.
Starting next Monday, all individuals over 18 years old will be eligible to receive a vaccine in Florida.
Individuals looking to get vaccinated in Hillsborough County can do so at a variety of sites ranging from federally-supported to private distributors, listed below:
— Tampa Greyhound Track, 755 E. Waters Ave., Tampa, FL (Federal site)
— Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N. Himes Avenue, Tampa, FL (State site)
— Children’s Board, 1002 E. Palm Ave., Tampa (State site)
— Vance Vogel Sports Complex, 13012 Bullfrog Creek Road, Gibsonton, FL (County site)
— Ed Radice Sports Complex, 14720 Ed Radice Drive, Tampa, FL (County site)
— TPepin’s Hospitality Centre, 4121 N. 50th St., Tampa, FL (County site)
To find pharmacies and healthcare centers distributing the vaccine, visit here.
