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Bengaluru, 23 May, 2021: While India is battling a severe second wave of COVID-19, getting the majority of our population vaccinated is key to our long-term defense against the pandemic. This is especially critical as cities, towns and villages need to urgently build up resources and resilience against a potential third wave.
Bengaluru was one of the worst-hit cities during the second wave. In order to reduce the transmission of the virus and prevent infections within the city and the state, city officials are partnering with several organizations to accelerate vaccinations for its residents over the next few months - with a special focus on frontline workers and underprivileged communities. The goal is to achieve high vaccination rates, with no community left behind.
The framework: #VaccinateandDonate
Corporates can sign up to vaccinate their frontline workers and employees at camps organized by partner hospitals. As part of this initiative, they cover the cost of the vaccination camps for their frontline workers and employees - and are also donating doses that will be administered to underprivileged communities. Some corporates have also signed up to donate vaccines directly without conducting camps for their employees.
The partners
Apollo Group of Hospitals, a key partner in this mission, is one of the first to conduct these camps, and will be vaccinating several frontline workers from organized and unorganized sectors, corporate employees, and the more susceptible as well as marginalized population in the city, starting next week.
"Vaccination is the only definitive tool to get over this dreaded pandemic, and Apollo Hospitals Group as the largest private integrated healthcare group in the country, is committed to the fight against the pandemic. We are happy to be part of the initiative to vaccinate frontline workers”, said Dr. K. Hari Prasad, President, Apollo Hospitals.
United Way Bengaluru which catalyses corporate giving for civil society, Sattva Consulting, a social impact advisory and management organization, and ACT Grants, a not-for-profit coalition by India’s startup ecosystem, is enabling this initiative by:
The funds being raised through these corporate-enabled vaccination camps are deployed towards donating and administering the vaccines for these marginalized communities.
"We in the BBMP are happy to support United Way Bengaluru (UWB) and ACT Grants in their efforts towards acceleration of vaccination for marginalized communities through CSR support. Migrant construction workers, kirana store staff, communities in dense market areas and others that have high risk of exposure are being prioritized. ACT Grants and UWB are supported by Sattva Consulting in enabling the execution of this through partnerships with NGOs such as Sambhav Group and others”, Gaurav Gupta, BBMP Chief Commissioner.
"We are pleased to partner with ACT Grants and CSR initiatives (including CSR donations through corporate vaccination camps) to ensure that marginalised communities are vaccinated on priority. United Way Bengaluru is committed to ensuring equitable vaccine administration in Bengaluru and these efforts will go a long way to ensure that.” Rajesh Krishnan - Executive Director - United Way of Bengaluru.
Several corporations have started contributing to this program. BBMP and its partners welcome all interested companies who want to support this mission, to write in to vaccinationsupport@sattva.co.in
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