No smartphones or tech savvy, Mumbai slums run into vaccine wall

* Shahabuddin Karikar’s employer at a construction site in Mumbai’s western suburb Malad asked him to get vaccinated. The 30-year-old labourer has an Android phone but no data pack. He tried to use the phone of a neighbour in Behram Baug slum to register online, but failed.

“After some time, I gave up. I don’t understand how to do it. I will get vaccinated when I go back to my village in West Bengal later this year,” he said.

* In Malvani slum 10 km north of Malad, Zulekha Mehboob Mulla (41) managed to register herself on CoWIN, but could not book a slot after trying for three days with her slow Internet connection.