PHILADELPHIA–The Philadelphia 76ers, as part of their effort to encourage Philadelphians to get vaccinated, are donating hundreds of 76ers Playoffs t-shirts and autographed items to the effort. The Health Department is holding a series of Johnson & Johnson vaccine clinics at the Pennsylvania Convention Center on May 28, June 1, and 2. Each day, the first 100 people vaccinated will receive a t-shirt, and the first person to be vaccinated after a secret, preselected time will win an autographed 76ers item.
“The best way to celebrate a 76ers playoff win is hugging and high-fiving your loved ones,” said Acting Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole. “The best way to do that safely is to get everyone vaccinated today. The 76ers organization has been a great partner thus far in making sure that folks are excited about getting vaccinated and getting back to watching the games together.”
“This is such an exciting time for our team and our city as we continue our quest to bring an NBA Championship to Philadelphia, said Chris Heck, 76ers President, Business Operations. “The safety of our fans is so important to us and we are proud to join the Philadelphia Department of Public Health in encouraging everyone in the community to get their vaccines. We look forward to welcoming even more fans back to The Center during this playoff run.”
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is continuing to operate the space at the Pennsylvania Convention Center as a COVID-19 vaccine clinic after the FEMA-supported mission ended on May 25. The Johnson & Johnson clinics that the 76ers are supporting are as follows:
Friday, May 28: 7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday, June 1: 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, June 2: 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
The Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine is a single-dose vaccine that has been proven safe and effective in trials and in real-life. Everyone who lives, works, or goes to school in Philadelphia and is 18 and older is eligible to receive Johnson & Johnson vaccine. A very rare clotting issue was identified among women ages 18 – 49. Women who receive this vaccine should be on the lookout for shortness of breath, chest pain, leg swelling, persistent abdominal pain, frequent or persistent headaches, or easy bruising at the site of the injection. If you have any of these symptoms within two weeks of receiving the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, seek medical attention.
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health and vaccine partners have administered more than 1.5 million doses of the COVID vaccine since mid-December. More than 550,000 Philadelphians are currently vaccinated, including 45% of all adults in Philadelphia. The vaccines are free, do not require identification or insurance, and are available at more than 280 sites across Philadelphia.
For the latest information on COVID-19 and the City’s response, visit https://www.phila.gov/covid. For information on the nearest vaccine clinic, visit https://www.vaccines.gov.
