Covid-19: One-third of slum dwellers in Pune city vaccinated with at least one dose

The vaccination drive has picked up after the initial lull, including in slums like Sinhagad road and Yerwada, with a population of more than one lakh each. “Initially, some slum dwellers were not keen on visiting even nearby hospitals or dispensaries for vaccination. The aim was then to reach out to them and engage civic-run marriage halls or schools or samaj mandirs in the slum areas for vaccination,” said Dr Deepak Pakhale, zonal medical officer (Zone 3, which includes Sinhagad, Dhankawadi and Warje). “For instance, at Janata Vasahat, we conducted camps at schools in the area and at Dhankawadi, we organised camps at Annabhau Sathe Vasahat. Due to these measures, there has been less resistance to Covid-19 vaccination,” Dr Pakhale said.

Dr Aruna Tarde, ward medical officer at Warje, said there were 13 slums in the jurisdiction. “As and when the doses were available, we organised four to five camps every week and included 200 in each camp,” said Tarde. Not many in the slums were aware of the Co-Win app, said Dr Tarde. “We engaged our volunteers who helped them register on the app. Ganesh mandals have been of immense help in creating awareness and so far, in Warje-Karvenagar, we have reached out to at least 10,330 slum dwellers,” she said.

Overall, 39 lakh vaccine doses have been administered in Pune city. While 28 lakh beneficiaries have got at least the first dose, 11 lakh have been fully vaccinated.

Meanwhile, 39 per cent or nearly 8 lakh local residents above 18 years of age in Pimpri-Chinchwad are yet to get even one dose of the vaccine. Pimpri-Chinchwad has a population of 25 to 27 lakh.

It has set a target of vaccinating 18.36 lakh, eligible residents. Of the total population, around 5.77 lakh are under the age of 18 years.

According to the figures released by the PCMC medical department, till September 12, 11,84,511 people have got at least one dose and among them, 4,61,859 are fully vaccinated. The administration has so far administered 16,46,370 doses of Covishield and Covaxin vaccines.

PCMC Additional Municipal Commissioner Vikas Dhakane on Tuesday said, “Our vaccination is on the right track. Though… citizens remain unvaccinated, in the next few days they will also be covered as we will be speeding up the drive”.

Dhakane said the PCMC is trying to procure additional two lakh vaccine doses from private agencies through CSR funds. The major reason for the lag in vaccination is the shortage of vaccines, said Dhakane. “Whatever doses we get end up being used up on the same day,” he added.

According to the figures released by the PCMC medical department, till September 12, 11,84,511 people have got at least one dose and among them, 4,61,859 are fully vaccinated. The administration has so far administered 16,46,370 doses of Covishield and Covaxin vaccines.

PCMC Additional Municipal Commissioner Vikas Dhakane on Tuesday said, “Our vaccination is on the right track. Though… citizens remain unvaccinated, in the next few days they will also be covered as we will be speeding up the drive”.

Dhakane said the PCMC is trying to procure additional two lakh vaccine doses from private agencies through CSR funds. The major reason for the lag in vaccination is the shortage of vaccines, said Dhakane. “Whatever doses we get end up being used up on the same day,” he added.