The New York Ballroom at the Tokyo American Club (TAC) is no stranger to special events, but this summer it’s home to an extraordinary display of community spirit.
On July 5, TAC opened its doors as an official vaccination center for all Minato Ward residents with the goal of vaccinating upward of 60,000 against COVID-19. As of today, the club has given out more than 40,000 first and second doses, a number that accounts for around 25% of the ward’s 160,000 vaccinated residents.
The entirety of the basement ballroom has been retrofitted to accommodate roughly 1,700 visitors at a time, in addition to 150 volunteer doctors, dentists and nurses, as well as other organizers and administrators. This impromptu health center operates five days a week, apart from Tuesdays and Saturdays, from 9:30 a.m. to 5:50 p.m. with a 90-minute break from 1:30 p.m.