We believe in #vaccineequity and this is our way of ensuring we provide free vaccination to all!
Parikrma Humanity Foundation vaccinates over thousand individuals from over 99 sums in Bengaluru with Sputnik vaccine for absolutely free of cost.
“We heard of long lines for the vaccine and how it is impossible to get a slot for several months. The parents of the Parikrma children are waiting for the free vaccine from the government, finding it difficult to use the technology to book themselves and the primary health centres were complaining of limited stock. And the horror of it all is that while the administration gets their act together, many people are going to die. Over the last 22 years that I have been working with the poor I have seen that they are always the last in the line for benefits and the first ones to die. And they are wept only by their bewildered hapless immediate family and do not account for in any of the statistics that get rolled out.
You may ask why is it that we are buying the vaccines when the government has promised it free to the poor. The answer is simple. Time is a very important factor here. If we do not get into the act quickly, lives will be lost. Government is not giving guarantees of any kind and we need guarantees to save lives. I put a simple test before taking any decision. What would I do to protect my daughter? I would buy the vaccine and give her the ammunition to fight. Our children’s parents too deserve the same. They cannot afford to buy the vaccines and cannot afford to wait either,” founder Shukla Bose.
In the month of July, Parikrma decided to buy vaccines from private parties and the government (as and when possible) and start a vaccination drive. We converted our schools as vaccination camps, invited the Parikrma alumni working in the medical field to volunteer with us, partnered with experienced public health experts, Address Health and started vaccinating (with Sputnik) the poor for free.
As of today (August 9 2021), we have vaccinated over 1000 individuals from the slums in Bengaluru, our staff and their families, our alumni and many others who walked-in to take the Sputnik vaccine for absolutely free. We will continue to hold more vaccination drives this month, and will make the vaccines available for free to more people (not only Parikrma families) but others who need the same.
We thank each one of our donors and supporters who came forward and helped us raise the money to buy the vaccines and set-up the drive with (best doctors) at our schools.
Thank you.