New York 'Vaccine Daddy' Also Outraged by Anti-Asian Hate Crimes [Correspondent Diary]

Most New York City Residents Visit for COVID-19 Vaccines
Ordinary Citizens Solve What Officials Could Not
Calls to Stop Hate Crimes Against Asians Amid Appointment Support

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] In the United States, more than 3 million COVID-19 vaccinations are being administered daily. However, making a vaccination appointment remains a difficult process.

The New York Times featured an interview with Hughes Ma, the operator of TurboBucks. (Photo by The New York Times)

Because appointments are made separately by vaccination sites, regions, and public and private sectors, it is very hard to secure a reservation. It is also difficult to know where to make the reservation.

The reporter visited pharmacy websites at midnight every day to make a vaccination appointment but was unsuccessful each time.

Previously, the experience of anxiously checking the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) website every night to renew a driver's license was actually easier (the effort to renew the driver's license that started in January has still not succeeded. The DMV offices the reporter visited have already been closed twice for two weeks each since the end of February. The promised callbacks after document verification have naturally not been kept.)

Because making appointments is so difficult, the reporter became curious about the secrets of those who managed to get vaccinated. When asking acquaintances, an unexpected answer came back: there are Twitter accounts that notify where appointments are available.

Indeed, there were Twitter accounts that informed about vaccination sites in nearby New York and New Jersey.

Turbovax, which helps New York City residents make vaccination appointments, is a representative example. Turbovax was created by Airbnb engineer Hughes Ma for just $50 in two weeks. It was a case where a private individual solved a problem that government officials could not.

In an interview with The New York Times, he introduced the motivation for development: "I was shocked to find that I had to check dozens of websites to make a vaccine appointment for my mother." He thought a better way was needed and took action himself.

The number of Turbovax users surged after New York City expanded its vaccination eligibility at the end of last month. The daily visitors, which had been around 200,000 to 300,000, soared to 4.2 million in a single day. This shows how many people want to make vaccination appointments but find it difficult. Turbovax’s Twitter followers have also reached 170,000. From ordinary citizens to politicians and celebrities, many have used Turbovax’s help to make vaccination appointments.

U.S. media have nicknamed Ma the "Vaccine Daddy."

However, recently, the "Vaccine Daddy" took a temporary leave from his job and, while expanding vaccination appointment support, started another campaign.

As his name suggests, he is Chinese American. Witnessing the spread of anti-Asian hate crimes across New York City and the U.S., he launched a campaign against anti-Asian hate crimes targeting visitors to his Twitter account.

On February 27, he temporarily suspended his Twitter operations, tweeting, "Anti-Asian hate crimes are out of control. I am afraid my family and friends will get hurt."

His fears became reality. After the shooting in Atlanta, Georgia last month that left eight Asian victims, Ma expressed his sorrow, saying, "I am Asian American. Turbovax is also Asian American."

The vaccination appointment alert Twitter account "Vaccine Bot NJ," active in nearby New Jersey where vaccine distribution is slower than in New York City, also joined Ma’s stance.

Vaccine Bot NJ posted a statement calling for the eradication of anti-Asian hate crimes. The operator said, "Sorry for posting something not related to vaccine appointment information. Anti-Asian hate crimes are having a big impact on our community, so I felt compelled to speak out," urging users’ attention. Judging from the content, the Vaccine Bot NJ operator is also presumed to be Asian.

Although politicians, celebrities, and social leaders in the U.S. have condemned anti-Asian hate crimes, little effect has been seen. Even a press conference held by Al Sharpton, a prominent Black pastor in New York City, to eradicate anti-Asian hate crimes has not changed the situation.

It is hoped that at least Turbovax users will remember that Asian Americans are neighbors working together to overcome COVID-19, not targets of hate crimes. As Ma’s actions show, Asian Americans are not objects of hatred but true citizens contributing to the United States.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.