Momentum–Routine Immunization Transformation & Equity (M-RITE) & COVID

The Momentum Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity (MRITE) initiative, backed by USAID and JSIPL since January 2022, is our strategic response to COVID‐19 in Maharashtra’s districts of Aurangabad, Ahmednagar, Beed, Nanded, and Nashik. It targets enhanced vaccine awareness and uptake, focusing on marginalized and hard‐to‐reach populations across five districts. This project exemplifies our commitment to public health equity and vaccine accessibility.

Activities & Outcomes

• Held advocacy meetings across 5 districts to enhance vaccination support, with 6 at the district level, 38 at the block level, and 300 at the village level.
• Conducted 920 Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC) sessions and 861 vaccine express sessions, improving vaccine accessibility and changing behavioral attitudes towards vaccination.
• Organized 33 mega vaccination camps and 235 community mobilization sessions, significantly boosting vaccination rates.
• Increased project visibility through 70 hoardings and promoted vaccination via 99 special‐day events, integrating health messaging into community celebrations.
• These strategic efforts culminated in a substantial increase in community engagement and vaccine uptake, demonstrating the project’s profound impact on public health.

Impact

The impact of MRITE has been profound, significantly improving vaccination rates across targeted districts and reaching a wide audience with vital vaccine information. Through its comprehensive approach, MRITE has not only increased vaccine demand and uptake among marginalized groups but also contributed to the overall reduction of COVID‐19’s impact in these communities.