TAMPA, Fla. — Health Matters Pharmacy is a Black-owned facility that is working towards bridging the gap between African Americans and the COVID-19 vaccine.

What You Need To Know

  • Health Matters Pharmacy in Tampa is working to encourage and education minorities on getting the COVID-19 vaccine

  • Health Matters Pharmacy is a Black-owned facility

  • The owner grew up and East Tampa and wants to help her hometown community

  • Health Matters Pharmacy is located at 1702 North 50th street in Tampa

“There’s a lot of things that have happened in the past, like them being discriminated against in the healthcare system, so they are very leery,” explained Dr. Jamaris Glenn of Health Matters Pharmacy. “That’s why as a Black man it’s great to be able to educate them on their options.” 

Everyone over the age of 16 in the state of Florida can register for their COVID-19 vaccination. Though, the owner of Health Matters Pharmacy, Dr. Vondyln Wright, said that minorities and young people are among the least likely to get the shot. 

“That’s why I wanted this pharmacy right here in this east Tampa neighborhood,” said Dr. Wright. “This area does not have a lot of resources and I wanted to make sure we were a part of the solution.” 

Dr. Wright grew up in an urban East Tampa neighborhood and was very intentional about getting her education and coming back to that same community to help. 

“We are here. We’re not a pop-up shop. We will vaccinate people year-around,” said Dr. Wright. 

Health Matters Pharmacy first opened their doors last Monday and have since administered over 200 vaccination shots to that community. Quante Ferguson was one of those people. He said that when his parents decided to get their vaccination shot, he followed suit. 

“I think we just need to realize that in this current climate, we can’t be last in the race,” said Ferguson. “If you have any hiccups or doubts, do your research but I think at the end of the day, I think it’s the best thing to do.” 

Ferguson received a Johnson and Johnson vaccination shot at the Health Matter facility. 

“Pharmacists are the backbone of medicine. We study it, we groom it, we deal with a lot of the experimental process of it,” explained Dr. Glenn. “So knowing that we can administer it to our people and be a part of history, is a great thing.”

Health Matters Pharmacy is located at 1702 North 50th Street in Tampa. ​