LOS ANGELES — In an effort to curb the spread of COVID-19 and expedite California’s recovery, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced 40% of available vaccines will be reserved for underserved communities.
This is welcome news to Benjamin Abaroa. A resident of Montebello, he works to help adults tackle substance abuse issues at Homeboy Industries, where he meets with people on a daily basis.
“This is one of the reasons why I’m taking this vaccine. It’s very important for our health,” said Abaroa. “I have a son that has asthma, so I’m very concerned about that as well. That’s my main concern: my son.”
Abaroa said he is grateful to get his first dose, since it wasn't an option for him last week. When vaccines first became available to essential workers, only 17% of vaccines were made available to residents of lower income areas. Abaroa explained how he feels the rollout hasn’t been fair, since the majority of essential workers come from communities like his.
"I mean, we should all be able to get the vaccine, not just the higher class, you know, like South Central, like everybody, man," he said. "Everybody should be able to get a vaccine and stay safe for our community, our families, because that’s who’s getting sick right now."
Organized by Shared Harvest, the pop-up vaccination event at Homeboy Industries was part of their Equitable Vaccine Distribution Initiative, VAXEQUITY.
“Building trust is important,” said Dr. Nana B. Afoh-Manin, founder of Shared Harvest. “Breaking that barrier to communities that don’t have access is important. And that means having a walk-up, having drive through, having home visits, having people follow-up with symptoms, so people don’t feel like they’re alone figuring things out at home should something happen.”
The reserved vaccine will be shared among 400 zip codes for those who live in the lowest 25% on the California Healthy Places index. Zip codes include South L.A., Koreatown, Chinatown, and communities along the 10 freeway from downtown to San Bernardino.
Abaroa added that he is now hopeful his neighbors and family members will have a chance to get the vaccine, and for life to return back to normal.
“So it doesn’t matter what color you are, Black, white, brown. People are dying out here, man, due to the pandemic,” said Abaroa. “If you’re iffy about it, stop playing with your life, man, and come get vaccinated, you know. Stop playing.”