MPP Nina Tangri & Mayor Bonnie Crombie Hail Community For Collaborating On Campaign
By Zainab Khorakiwala
MISSISSAUGA: The Dawoodi Bohra community of Mississauga hosted a two-day COVID-19 vaccine clinic this past weekend to administer the first dose of Pfizer to people 12 years of age and older and the second dose to people 70 years of age and older.
In total, the vaccine clinic administered 739 doses over the weekend.
Anwar Bawangaonwala, a spokesperson for the community said, “The Dawoodi Bohra community of Mississauga has been very engaged in the vaccination drive as part of the #RiseToVaccinate global community initiative as it is important to us that we contribute to the health and wellbeing of the local community as much as we can.
“As part of this initiative, we have been conducting vaccine awareness programs and 100% of our community has received their 1st dose. I’m delighted that we have been able to lend our support to the Ontario Government’s vaccination goal.”
Mayor Bonnie Crombie visited the vaccine clinic and in her remarks to the community said, “Vaccinations are critical in our fight against COVID-19 and I am thrilled to see so many communities, including the Dawoodi Bohras of Mississauga collaborating with us to administer the first and second doses of the vaccine safely and efficiently.
“I look forward to more engagements with the community and hope to be a part of their efforts in the future.”
Nina Tangri, the Member of the Provincial Parliament for Streetsville, also visited the clinic and expressed her gratitude for the community’s support.
In a statement, she said, “I would like to express my deepest thanks to the Dawoodi Bohras of Mississauga for hosting this pop-up clinic and for their tireless efforts and dedication in ensuring that second doses were made available to people aged 70 years + as soon as Ontario expanded eligibility.
“This weekend’s clinic means 739 people in our community are more protected against COVID-19 than they were before and is a significant step towards getting past this pandemic. This is the true Ontario spirit, and I look forward to supporting their future endeavors.”
The Dawoodi Bohra community has been highly engaged in the COVID-19 relief effort, spreading awareness about the importance of vaccines, donating to the Mississauga Food Bank as part of Mayor Bonnie Crombie’s food drive, and assisting local medical professionals and frontline health workers by providing over 500 scrub hats to multiple hospitals in Ontario.
“Recently, the Bohra community received the COVID Heroes Award from the Mayor for contributing to the wellbeing of its members, neighbours and broader society.
About the Dawoodi Bohras of Mississauga
Dawoodi Bohras are united by a set of centuries-old principles: love for one’s country, eradicating poverty and hunger, women’s empowerment, enhancing the natural environment, engaging with other faiths, and physical health and wellbeing.
Many of the values at the core of the Bohra faith align very closely with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. For decades, Bohras of Mississauga have been living their daily lives according to these principles, taking practical action to support members of society who most need help.