Black churches in Jacksonville are doubling as vaccination sites over Easter weekend

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Several Black churches in Jacksonville are doubling as vaccination sites over the Easter holiday.

It’s intended to get the vaccine in front of more people of color on a weekend that typically sees fuller pews.

“Free vaccine” signs lined the sidewalk outside of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church on Edgewood Avenue Friday.

Two buses took up a portion of its parking lot where health care professionals helped put shots into arms.

Mia Jones, CEO of Agape Family Health, said it’s not a coincidence that this event is being held at a church on Good Friday.

“Those that are believers are going to be very active this weekend and so we are here on Good Friday recognizing that it would be a good time for them to come and get their vaccines,” Jones said.

Greater Macedonia is one of four predominantly Black churches that have partnered with Agape Family Health to administer vaccines over the Easter weekend.

On Saturday, The Sanctuary at Mt. Calvary and The Citadel Church of Jacksonville will administer vaccines and on Sunday, St. Stephen AME Church will do the same.

“We are going to African American churches, African American organizations, pulling up to African American neighborhoods, to make sure that they have an opportunity to get the vaccination,” Jones said.

Greater Macedonia’s pastor, Dr. Landon Williams, Sr., founded Agape Family Health.

He’s lost two nieces to the pandemic.

“It’s imperative that everybody be vaccinated, very imperative, it’s a matter of life and death,” Williams said.

It’s the second year in a row that Easter will be a masked and socially distant holidayfor Christians around the world.

But at least this weekend, many faithful in Jacksonville will have a convenient opportunity to protect themselves and others against COVID-19.

The church sites mentioned are offering the Moderna vaccine to anyone who is eligible.

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Cox Media Group