Eastside barbershop selected by White House initiative to host COVID-19 vaccine clinic

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – White House Senior Policy Advisor for COVID-19 Equity Dr. Cameron Webb was in Jacksonville on Tuesday to encourage more people to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

The Man Cave Barbershop A. Philip Randolph Boulevard on the city’s Eastside was selected by the White House “Shots at the Shop” vaccine initiative to host a COVID-19 vaccine clinic from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday.

Pfizer shots were provided by the Florida Department of Health at no cost to people age 12 and older.

The Florida A&M University College of Pharmacy and Black Nurses Association administered the vaccinations.

“It was great. The shot didn’t hurt. The nurses were really nice. It was easy,” said a woman named Larrina, who got vaccinated at the event.

Dana Miller, the owner of the Man Cave Barbershop, signed up for the initiative to help save lives, but he said it is also personal for him.

“This delta variant is dangerous, and it’s killing a lot of people, and my heart goes out to those people that are losing their lives,” Miller said. “My wife is a Type 1 diabetic, and she’s been vaccinated since April, but she caught COVID about three weeks ago, and by the grace of God, she’s still here because of the vaccine. I strongly believe it was the vaccine that helped save her life.”

According to the latest data from the Florida Department of Health, 68% of Floridians age 12 and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The vaccine initiative led by the White House COVID-19 Response Team aims to encourage more people to get vaccinated and end misinformation about the vaccine.

“We are making sure that no matter what the origin of your hesitancy is, we are addressing it. No matter what the challenges are, the barriers to access, we are addressing those,” Webb said. “We are hoping to stimulate the community energy around this conversation, keep the people talking about the need for vaccination, especially in the setting of this delta variant.”

Miller said he hopes he’s made a difference in his community by encouraging others to get vaccinated.

“I spend about 10 hours a day in this neighborhood, and the people are dear to me, to my heart,” Miller said. “God placed me back in this community to be a source to help educate our people.”

Florida Blue supported the event with giveaways and insurance agents to answer health care questions. Jaguars cheerleaders were there, too. Those who got vaccinated received tickets to a Jaguars game next month.


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