Under the initiative of 3M India, VaccineOnWheels and United Way Bengaluru are supporting Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation with their COVID immunization drive since August 2021. In less than 3 months, this initiative has administered more than 15,000 COVID vaccinations to underprivileged population in slum areas, using 2 mobile Vaccination Clinics from VaccineOnWheels, with UWBe playing crucial role in creating awareness & mobilizing beneficiaries to the micro vaccination booths.

Door to door household visits of the community mobilisers in these slum localities with the help of ASHA workers and Anganwadi workers, helped address concerns and fears among people. Also, having the vaccination centres near their households prompted many to seek vaccination. The initiative was able to vaccinate daily wage labours, construction workers, industrial workers, housemaids, security guards, persons who are working in residential societies, persons affected with leprosy etc.

Following the success of this unique Public Private Partnership, 3M has decided to extend the initiative with a fresh target of administering 50,000 vaccinations. With this, the support for both mobile vaccination units will be renewed for another 3 months in the PCMC area.

Speaking on this successful initiative at a milestone event today, Dr. Pavan Salve, Medical Health Officer of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation said, “Covid pandemic has already affected many lives. The best remedy is to get everyone vaccinated at the earliest. Under the new initiative of Har Ghar Dastak, we aim to immunize all eligible population with both doses”. Dr Varsha, Senior Medical Officer added, “With VaccineOnWheels providing support with 2 mobile vans inclusive of doctors, 3M India sponsoring the initiative under the CSR umbrella and United Way of Bengaluru working to mobilise beneficiaries and spread awareness, we are confident of achieving our goal with 100% penetration. This excellent partnerhip is of great value to PCMC areas in Dapodi and Pimple Gurav, and the State of Maharashtra.”

Ramesh Ramdurai, MD of 3M India Limited expressed happiness and satisfaction for the rapid results brought about by the partnership. “We initially planned to target 10,000 beneficiaries, but seeing the tremendous response brought about by VaccineonWheels and United Way of Bengaluru, we decided to extend support to PCMC towards Mission 50K. I am gratified for so much effort being put in towards ensuring health and well-being of the underserved in our society”

Lokesh Gujjarappa, Head (Strategic Initiative, M&E) of UWBe said “We feel gratified to be a part of this initiative. As India celebrates the successful vaccination for 1 billion, we feel privileged that in collaboration with our CSR partner 3M India, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) and VaccineonWheels we are doing our bit by administering vaccination especially among the marginalized. United Way Bengaluru is grateful to 3M, PCMC and VaccineOnWheels for their support.”

Jignesh Patel, Founder & CEO of VaccineOnWheels had this to say: “With support from 3M & PCMC, VaccineOnWheels got an opportunity to serve the society’s most underserved population. We are grateful to 3M, PCMC & UWBe for supporting India’s COVID Immunization drive. This unique partnership has enabled multiple stakeholder collaboration across industries under CSR, government, and NGOs to share a commitment in making available vaccination services even at grassroots levels”.