Roots of Faith in Sharpsburg hosts covid-19 vaccine clinic

Roots of Faith in Sharpsburg will offer a covid-19 vaccine clinic on June 12.

The event from 9 a.m. to noon is open to the community and will offer the Pfizer vaccine to people ages 12 and older, leaders said.

The clinic is being hosted in conjunction with UPMC.

“We are excited to help provide the covid-19 vaccine to our neighbors who might not otherwise have access to it,” the Rev. Scott Shaffer said.

Shaffer is the lead pastor at Faith United Methodist Church in Fox Chapel, the parent group of the Sharpsburg ministry.

The event is open to Sharpsburg residents and those in surrounding communities.

“Roots of Faith is all about building community, and that includes working with our community partners like UPMC and volunteers throughout the Fox Chapel Area, to help meet the needs of the community,” Shaffer said.

The clinic will be at 800 Main St. Appointments are encouraged but walk-ins are welcome.

Second doses will be dole out July 10.

Vaccine clinics opened to all Pennsylvanians in April.

Since then, 547,820 people in Allegheny County have received two vaccine doses and 198,941 people are partially vaccinated as of June 1, according to data from the state Department of Health.

Fox Chapel Area School District has hosted two recent vaccine clinics, the first on May 3 and the second on May 24.

Sponsored by Rite-Aid, the clinic on May 24 saw more than 150 people scheduled to receive the first dose of Pfizer vaccine and more than 100 people signed up to receive a follow-up dose from the May 3 event.

“We are pleased to be able to offer this convenience to those within our school community,” Bonnie Berzonski, district coordinator of communications, said.

Likewise, Shaffer said the vaccine clinic at Roots fits perfectly with the group’s mission.

“Roots of Faith has been privileged to serve in other times of emergency such as floods, government shutdowns and now in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic,” he said. “It is wonderful to see the community come together in times of need.”

To schedule, call 833-653-0518.