New COVID-19 vaccination center to open next week in Raleigh.
New center would serve largely Black community
Starting next week, COVID-19 vaccinations will be available at a new site in Raleigh, the Shelby County Health Department announced.
The Greater Imani Cathedral of Faith, located at 3824 Austin Peay Highway, will become the latest Memphis-area vaccination site.
Appointment information will be posted next week at www. shelby. community, the health department said. People without internet access or who need additional assistance signing up can call the hotline at 901-222-7468 (901-222-SHOT), which is open between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.
“Greater Imani Church is a servant to our community,” the church’s senior pastor, Bill Adkins, said in a statement. “We are excited and thankful to be able
to help our brothers and sisters in the African American community who are at a greater risk to have access to this important vaccination effort. It is my
hope that other churches also extend this opportunity to all of our people.”
The site, in a zip code that is predominantly Black, will make vaccinations more convenient for north Memphis residents. The area presently does not have a nearby vaccination site.
“Communities of color have been hit hard during the pandemic and for generations before,” Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris said in a statement. “Health equity must be a top priority.”
Said Alisa Haushalter, director of the Shelby County Health Department: “The partnership with Greater Imani Church will not only help us reach a geographic area where vaccinations were not previously accessible, it also achieves another important goal by making vaccination more available in underserved black and brown communities.”
As of Tuesday, the health department was officially vaccinating in the 1a1 and 1a2 priority groups and anyone over the age of 70. Eligibility information is available atwww. shelby. community
Laura Testino covers education and children’s issues for the Commercial Appeal. Reach her at laura.testino@commercialappeal.com or 901-512-3763. Find her on Twitter: @Ldtestino