Posted on March 25, 2021

“Oh my god, I’m so relieved!” a man declared to the street on a crisp, sunny March morning. He just received his COVID vaccine. “Congrats!” Voices sing out in response. The mood is calm but clear: lives are changing today, for the better.

On March 18th, the Karsh Center, in collaboration with the Annenberg Foundation, Wallis Annenberg GenSpace and the Los Angeles Fire Department, distributed 119 Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines to the local community, specifically targeted homebound seniors in Koreatown, and also serving those who were eligible for the shot because of their health or job. The line wrapped around the corner before 10 AM, but the team of Karsh Center volunteers and staff, GenSpace staff, and the LAFD team were ready and excited to get them what they came for; a vaccine (and hope).

The crowd was diverse, typical for the Karsh Center, with several volunteers helping translate Korean, Spanish, and Tagalog to get everyone through the well-organized line. It was a priority for this partnership to help get the residents of Koreatown age 65 and older vaccinated, as only 42% had received at least one dose. This is comparatively less than residents of other parts of L.A., where up to 75% of older adults have been vaccinated. The community response to the Karsh center’s effort was strong and motivated, very much matching the enthusiasm of the volunteers.  And quickly a routine was established; register and get a vaccination card, receive the vaccination, and finally wait 15 to 30 minutes. To get through this routine, it impressively took less than 45 minutes to complete. So the line moved pretty quickly. And behind our masks, everyone was all smiles. Truly it was a special thing to witness that number of people collectively breathe a sigh of relief from this past year. 

An exceptionally notable moment in the day was when a local 104 year-old woman was driven right up to the curb and administered the vaccine while sitting in her car. It really served as a reminder on how important this vaccine is, and how essential it is that everyone get it if they can. Some people were so excited they took selfies and videos, because in truth this is a photo-worthy moment, the day we first felt a twinge of optimism, that maybe now life can begin to go back to how it was before.