Covid-19: Shopping malls offering space for vaccination drive

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After stadiums, movie theatres and community centres, it’s the turn of shopping malls to offer their spaces as to be used as vaccination centres throughout the country.

As the country struggles to increase the vaccination drive, it is time for all its resources to be utilised for this critical need of the nation.

According to Shopping Centres Association of India (SCAI), the apex body of shopping centres/malls, there are more than 650 large and more than 1,000 relatively smaller shopping malls in the country. On an average, each has at least 1 lakh sq feet of area that could be utilised for this purpose.

SCAI pledge and outcome

SCAI has urged state governments across the country to utilise shopping centers/malls for stepping up the vaccination drive.

The association and the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) are jointly conducting the first ‘Drive Through’ vaccination drive at various malls in the area.

The ‘drive through’ vaccination drive was conducted at Seawoods Grand Central and Inorbit Mall in Navi Mumbai for individuals above 45 years of age. The drive was carried out at the parking lot of the malls in a systematic and hygienic environment.

Mumbai

SCAI has also lauded the efforts of Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and its commissioner Iqbal Chahal for implementing the ‘drive-through’ vaccination initiative that continues to help many eligible citizens to get their jabs in a timely and safe manner.

This ‘Mumbai Model’ has already received accolades from several sections of society including the Supreme Court of India.

Kolkata

In Kolkata, all the malls are closed since April 30 to comply with government guidelines.

“We are ready to offer vaccination facilities at our malls through drive in vaccination and we can also provide our atriums in South City Mall and Acropolis Mall for setting up vaccination camps. I have already suggested this to the chief secretary and home secretary of the state government,” said Sushil Mohta, chairman, SCAI’s eastern region.

Already Priya Cinemas, a renowned movie hall of Kolkata, has turned itself into a satellite vaccination centre.

Delhi on the radar

SCAI office bearers thought that government efforts to inoculate all eligible Indians in a fast and speedy manner and help curbing further spread of coronavirus infections.

“As all the malls are almost closed so we would continuously extend our support to the Delhi government and local administration in every possible manner,” said Mukesh Kumar, chairman, SCAI.

The infrastructure of malls with ample safe parking space and training rooms can be utilised as vaccination camps.

Almost all the shopping malls are closed throughout the country, so there is a lot of space to vaccinate people with proper COVID protocols, Kumar told Money9.

SCAI has urged all state governments across the country to consider such measures.

In India till now, 16.75 crore citizens have been vaccinated, out of whom about 3.4 crore have received both the doses.