Mumbai: Over 8,000 Dharavi residents get the shot at mega camp

As government’s vaccine supply stumbles, local MP joins hands with private players for a three-day mega vaccination camp, people were registered in advance through a door-to-door drive

As states struggle to get Covid-19 vaccines, a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative has come to the aide of Dharavi residents. The area’s representatives and private players came together and got nearly 9,000 Dharavi residents vaccinated in two days. The camp’s vaccinations over three days are one-third of the total in Dharavi since March this year.

The Dharavi model was highly appreciated for containing the spread of Covid in both waves. But the response to vaccination was lukewarm and the civic body had to adopt various measures to bring citizens to vaccination centres.

Till July 11, Dharavi’s civic-run vaccination centres had managed to vaccinate 30,203 residents. “The vaccine shortage has hampered the entire drive. Somehow, we had managed to bring residents to centres, but for the past 10 days there were only three days when vaccines were available,” said a BMC official requesting anonymity.

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Local MP Rahul Shewale teamed up with NGO Shri Radha Aid in association with ICICI Lombard and Surana Hospital for a mega vaccination drive from July 10 to July 12. Sena workers got more than 12,000 residents registered for the vaccination through a door-to-door campaign.

“On Day 1, we vaccinated 3,020 people and on Day 2, we vaccinated 2,712 people and on Day 3, we vaccinated 3,240 people,” said Vasant Nakashe, corporator from ward no. 186. “There are no vaccines coming from the Centre but we can’t just sit and relax. Vaccinating more and more people will help blunt the third wave,” 
he added.

Talking about the special drive arranged through CSR, Additional Municipal Commissioner Kiran Dighavkar said, “This is really good for Dharavi residents. More companies are coming forward and contacting us to set a camp in Dharavi. This is a win-win situation for us as more people are getting the shots before the third wave.”

Vax in numbers

Approx population of Dharavi: 7 lakh
Vaccinations in Dharavi till July 11: 30,203
Vaccinations in the camp (July 10-12): 8,972

3,020
No. of people vaccinated on Day 1

2,712
No. of people vaccinated on Day 2

3,240
No. of people vaccinated on Day 3

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