‘Vaccination on wheels’ for the poor residing in slums too

Government has put in use 30 air-conditioned vans for the purpose

The mobile vans used by Telangana government to conduct ‘vaccination on wheels’ drive for people belonging to high-risk groups would be extended to give jabs to people residing in slums. Senior officials in the State Health department said that the vaccination for slum dwellers too would be launched in a few weeks’ time. The State government has been conducting these drives for people in high-risk groups such as vendors of vegetables, fruits, shop-keepers of grocery stores, meat shops, and others. The State’s Chief Secretary announced on Friday that 26 lakh people in this group were given the jab, and that 30 vehicles have been put to use to vaccinate the remaining in the category. The drives were conducted at work places in Hyderabad, Medchal-Malkajgiri, and Rangareddy districts. While the drives were conducted in the three districts, the latter two did not receive the vaccine vans which are air-conditioned. The vans, over 20, are concentrated in Hyderabad limits.