LOS ANGELES — Almost a third of Californians have received at least one dose of a COVID vaccine, according to the California Department of Public Health. But in South Los Angeles, just 6% of residents have been vaccinated.

What You Need To Know

  • The South L.A. nonprofit Community Build and the ridesharing company Lyft are partnering to offer free and discounted rides to COVID-19 vaccination sites

  • Through the Vaccine Rydes program, South L.A. residents can get round-trip transportation to COVID-19 appointments and also book a vaccine

  • The program is available online at VaccineRydes.com or by calling 877-VAC-RYDE

  • On April 1, the California Department of Public Health expanded vaccination eligibility to anyone age 50 and older

Recognizing that at least part of that disparity is because of a lack of transportation, the South L.A. nonprofit Community Build, Inc., launched a new program on Thursday called Vaccine Rydes. 

Operated in partnership with the ridesharing company Lyft, South L.A. residents with vaccine appointments who also have the Lyft app on their phones can go online to request round-trip transportation within a ten-mile radius and receive a free or discounted ride. Individuals who are eligible for the vaccine but do not have an appointment can call 877-VAC-RYDE to schedule a vaccination and receive a free or discounted Lyft trip.

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“Access to reliable transportation represents a major barrier to care for millions of Americans across the country, especially for vulnerable communities," Lyft’s Community Organizer for Southern California, Van Pierszalowsky, said in a statement. 

On Thursday, California expanded vaccination eligibility to residents who are age 50 and older. It will expand eligibility to everyone age 16 and up on April 15.