Covid-19 vaccination drive: Companies want to make sure employees get jabs

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While the first wave of Covid-19 wrecked havoc on most world economies, the availability of a vaccine has given us a chance to contain the damage during the second wave — and increasing the pace of inoculation is the only way to contain it.

Sample this: India added over one lakh coronavirus infections in just two days with 53,476 new cases in a span of 24 hours, the highest single day rise so far this year, pushing the nationwide covid-19 tally of cases to 1,17,87,534. The active caseload registered an increase for the 15th day in a row.

In the wake of rising infections during the second wave, an arduous task lies ahead for India’s vaccination drive. While government is inoculating citizens in a phased manner, many organisations are coming out in solidarity and offering their support to accelerate the drive.

Online food delivery platform Swiggy on March 23 announced that it will cover Covid-19 vaccination cost for over 2 lakh delivery partners.

“From essentials to food, delivery partners have always been our lifelines. We’re happy to announce that we’re supporting 100% of the vaccination cost for our entire delivery fleet, and that this entire drive will be facilitated by us to keep them and you safe,” Swiggy tweeted.

Extending a helping hand to the vaccination drive, Uber India has pledged free rides worth Rs 10 crore. These free rides will be deployed to help citizens travel to and from authorised vaccination centres in the second phase of the vaccination drive.

“Any Indian citizen above 60 and 45+ age group with co-morbidities can now utilize these free rides to travel to and from the nearest authorised vaccination centre through easily redeemable promo codes. We will also leverage NGO partners such as the Robin Hood Army and others for transporting the vulnerable and underprivileged elderly to vaccination centres,” the cab aggregator said.

Earlier this month, Two-wheeler and three-wheeler manufacturer TVS Motor Company announced that it had extended free covid-19 vaccination for all employees and their immediate family members. This vaccination drive is in line with the ongoing Government guidelines and will cover 35,000 direct and indirect company employees across the country, the company said in a statement.

The first phase of covid-19 vaccination drive was launched on 16 January, in which only health care workers and frontline workers were vaccinated. The second phase began on 1 March, which included people over 60 years of age and those aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions.