(August 26, 2021) GiveIndia, one of the country’s largest donation platforms, has recently launched its Vaccinate India Programme to help the underserved communities and protect them from coronavirus. Spearheaded by Atul Satija, the organization aims to vaccinate the marginalized sections of society across the country. For this program, GiveIndia is collaborating with state governments, donors, and partner organizations to mobilize vaccination drives for the excluded communities in rural areas and isolated localities.
As part of the program, the organization will also address vaccine hesitancy, which has been responsible for a large number of people shying away from the COVID-19 jab. Currently, GiveIndia’s Vaccinate India Programme has commenced in Karnataka in partnership with ACT Grants, Narayana Health, Sparsh Hospitals and Apollo Hospitals. So far, the organization has administered over one lakh doses to people such as waste pickers, BPL card holders, and slum dwellers in Bengaluru. In its first phase, the program aims to vaccinate at least 2.5 lakh people.
Experts have been saying that the one way to beat the coronavirus is by vaccinating a majority of the population. However, vaccine hesitancy has been slowing down the process. The second wave of COVID-19 hit the country hard this year. According to the GiveIndia website, in May 2021, 53% of all new cases were reported from the country’s hinterlands and accounted for every second death from the virus. “While in cities there is awareness and availability of vaccines, in our rural communities the reality is very different,” reads the company’s website. It is to bridge this gap that GiveIndia has launched the Vaccinate India Program.
Established in 2000, GiveIndia was born to bridge the gap between people who want to make a difference and those doing phenomenal work but in need of support. Over the last 20 years, the organization has enabled giving through marathons, galas, giving pledges, payroll giving, crowdfunding, philanthropy consulting, CSR grant management, collective giving, and disaster response. Earlier this year, the organization was one of the 11 in India to receive grants from American philanthropist MacKenzie Scott.
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