The VoW programme personnel and the non-profit United Way Mumbai spoke about the vans going the last mile across the city, in order to reach out to the vulnerable and those left out
Children from Kurla get the COVID vaccine dose on Friday. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi
A Vaccine on Wheels (VoW) initiative got going at a Kurla East school on Friday afternoon, as children aged 12 to 14 came in to take the COVID vaccine. A van parked on the premises served as a centre for the vaccination drive. Though vaccinations for this age group have just opened, the VoW programme personnel and the non-profit United Way Mumbai spoke about the vans going the last mile across the city, in order to reach out to the vulnerable and those left out, to give them access to the COVID vaccine.
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As children trooped into the school classroom for registration, Nandita Narvekar, manager for corporate partnerships of the NGO United Way Mumbai said as children trooped into the school classroom for registration, “Today the accent here is on children but we are reaching out to all, from different age groups who have not taken the vaccine yet, for the first, second or booster dose. We coordinate with the BMC, and the ward officers let us know where there is a need for vaccination. Mobilisation officers do the rounds of the area, announcing via megaphone that a vaccination drive is going to be conducted on so-and-so day along with timings, urging people to come and get the vaccine.”
Fear here
While registration formalities were on, Pravin Sohani, senior programme officer VoW, said about the Kurla drive, “This is L ward where we have pockets in the community who were extremely reluctant to take the vaccine. There was reluctance born out of fear, hesitancy. Some also stayed away from the vaccine because of religious reasons.” Both Narvekar and Sohani claimed, “There is a huge herd mentality too. People used to look at others who were unvaccinated and think, ‘if they are alright, it should be okay for me too’.” Those part of the drive recalled mobilisation officers visiting a woman 10 times in Ghatkopar urging her to take the vaccine. “She came in to take the jab after the tenth visit by the officer,” they stated.
The volunteers at the site claimed that vaccine shortage and queues played their part in keeping some away from the centres. App slots that got filled in a blink and serpentine queues were deterrents for some people. “The fears are falling away,” said vaccine volunteers, “with several of those who stayed away seeing that people who have taken the vaccine are alright even after two years.”
China wave
Children at the centre were glued to their mobile phones, surfing global news too, so it was no surprise they were up to speed with COVID happenings. Several kids said, “We are aware of the wave in China, and want to take the vaccine in case there is another wave here.” Parents Kishorekumar J and Sujanchand C who had brought their children to get jabbed said, “We do not know why people stayed away from the vaccine for so long. Now, the vaccines have come to them. We have to stress safety.”
The children said that some of them were in the midst of exams, “but that should not stop us. Sit for the exam paper and then, come in for the vaccine, that’s what we want to tell our friends. We are not scared.” They laughed as they stood outside the van awaiting their turn for the vaccine on their kid’s day out with a twist.
Myth-busting
Kurla local Dr Ubaid Rehman said, “Last-mile vaccine connectivity is a must. There are several people left out. Some were bedridden, so they took the vaccine now as they were afraid their condition would worsen. Some specially abled persons too were concerned that their disability would ‘increase’ with the vaccine, it was important to bust such myths.”
The doctor, being from the area, also had a connection with the community which helped when trying to convince ‘Kurlekars’ to take the vaccine. Workers claimed that children with their natural exuberance and infectious energy can be the ultimate ambassadors for adults who have yet to take the vaccine. The NGO United Way is working with the BMC, Jivika Healthcare and has sponsor support from HSBC, but, “money is one part. The mindset has to change and people should have accessibility. When that comes together, we have a winning vax combine,” said the workers, determined to continue their last-mile outreach.
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