LOS ANGELES — Finding a vaccine appointment took some effort for Penny Herscovitch, an art teacher in Los Angeles.
But her determination led her to getting vaccinated.
What You Need To Know
- The grassroots organization Get Out the Shot: LA recruits vetted, digital volunteers to help with answering vaccine appointment questions and booking
- The organization has received over 3,000 requests for assistance so far
- Co-founder Liz Schwandt says they have an increased need for Spanish-speaking volunteers to help callers
“I was so happy and so relieved, and I didn’t even know like that amount of anxiety that was going to be uplifted,” Herscovitch said.
After some trial and error in trying to gain access to a vaccine appointment, Herscovitch decided that she wanted to help others. She now spends a few hours per week volunteering her time, transcribing voicemails from Spanish to English and booking appointments for callers reaching out to Get Out the Shot: Los Angeles, a grassroots organization helping to bring access to the vaccine for those in need.
"A lot of people who are calling Get Out the Shot are calling from of the most impacted zip codes that have the most, the highest incidents of COVID, and it’s a race," said Herscovitch. "We really want to get them their vaccines."
Herscovitch is one of dozens of volunteers donating their time virtually to help others book an appointment. So far, the organization has received over 3,000 requests for assistance. Co-founder Liz Schwandt explained that they have an increased need for Spanish-speaking volunteers to help callers especially, as eligibility has expanded to everyone over the age of 16.
"They don’t have a printer at home. They don’t have that confirmation. They may not have the type of documentation that a CVS is used to, having like a driver’s license," said Schwandt. "So we’re really there to help a person without the stuff that a lot of us are used to in our daily lives get access to this care."
For Herscovitch, it’s been an opportunity to help others from afar.
“I transitioned from living in fear to being a lot more optimistic after I got my shot, and I was really like, 'I’m just so inspired and excited and optimistic by being able to help other people,'" she said.
While eligibility to vaccines have expanded, Herscovitch is hoping her time helping will remind others that they can get through pandemic together.