SEEDS launches 'KAVACH' campaign to ensure vaccination to 1 million people

New Delhi: Non Profit Organisation, Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society (SEED) announced on Friday, the launch of ‘Kavach’ - a COVID-19 national vaccine adoption program under its ongoing campaign #ShareTheBurden.

The vaccination programme began in March this year, is planned to be carried out nationally for next nine months, covering people in Delhi-NCR, Maharashtra, Punjab, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Telangana.

Dr Manu Gupta, Co-founder, SEEDS said, “The program will accelerate the vaccine adoption efforts across the country and that’s the only way to safeguard communities from the anticipated third wave. We are committed to reach out to the most marginalised communities that are getting left out due to various challenges and contribute to government’s efforts in ensuring COVID free clusters.”

The campaign provides training and support to health workers for better handling of COVID situations. It with the help of a ground force of SEED community volunteers, trained on best practices for vaccine adoption works alongside frontline health workers and local health officials. Further, community meetings are planned to be organised for promoting awareness, prevention, and sensitisation of COVID-19 best practices.

Commenting on the program, Krishna Vatsa, Member, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said, “The program helps in strengthening the momentum of the ongoing vaccination drive. We have vaccinated over 327 million people. We still have to go a very long way. To make vaccine accessible to every corner of the country, government is working on addressing the digital divide so that people with no smartphones and access to CoWin app can also be vaccinated. There is a need to identify the most vulnerable class and NGOs can play a pivotal role in doing so. Training of health workers, community workers another extremely important. Efforts of SEEDS will help in augmenting the nationwide vaccination campaign.”

The program will identify blind spots where a large segment of local communities have not been vaccinated and hold meetings with community leaders and stakeholders for vaccination plans of their village ward or locality. Also, assistance will be provided for registration on the CO-WIN app and in tracking of post-vaccination side effects. The follow-up on second doses will be ensured as per the advise by Union Health Ministry.