LOS ANGELES — A push for vaccine equity spearheaded by Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis and the St. John’s Well Child and Family Center has led to the opening of a vaccination site for community members at the East Los Angeles Civic Center.

One of those community members is Darren Lo, a front-line worker who recently received the verification documentation that will allow him to receive his vaccination.

What You Need To Know

  • A new push for vaccine equity by Supervisor Solis and the St. John's Well Child and Family Center has led to the opening of a new clinic in East L.A.

  • The East L.A. Civic Center, where the clinic is being hosted, hopes to vaccinate as many locals as possible

  • Wealthier regions in L.A. County have seen higher vaccination rates than lower income areas

  • Darren Lo, an East L.A. local and front-line food worker, is among those grateful for the opportunity

“I’m pretty amazed that it happened so quickly. I wasn’t expecting it to be here. I was thinking I was going to have to wait until summer or later,” Lo said.

In order to receive his vaccination, Lo had to verify his local residency and his status as a front-line worker in the food industry.

The new site is hoping to increase vaccination rates in the area. East Los Angeles residents have had far lower vaccination rates than neighboring, wealthier communities.

“I think it’s really important, because you know we’ve heard of the like, private school areas, you know, some places that are wealthier that are getting it. And I don’t think that’s right because the vaccines really need to go out to who needs them most. And the people who need it most are the people that don’t have the luxury of staying at home to work,” Lo said.

Administering the Pfizer vaccine, the head of St. John’s Well Child and Family Center, Jim Magia, says vaccine parity is key for L.A. County if it wants to conquer the pandemic as a whole.

“Right now, we have an equity problem. These tents, these vaccines, are about equity. It's about providing equitable access to vaccine,” Magia said. 

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Having that access is something Lo is extremely grateful for. County officials say the disparities are due to longstanding issues with health care access, education, and poverty. Still, Lo says he’s looking forward to the return of a bit of normalcy.

“I’m actually really hopeful. It just seems like if I can get it now, then I think the country is probably going to open up in like a few months, it seems like things are going to go back to normal, which is really exciting,” he said.

Whether it's “normal” or “new normal,” Lo is looking forward to brighter days.