Covid-19 in Mumbai: 'My friends and I decided to get jabbed on Day 1,' says Mulund teen

Shriya Nair, 16, is the first to get vaccinated at the Mulund Jumbo Centre on Monday. Pics/Rajesh Gupta

Teenagers eager to get the Covid-19 vaccine rushed to the Jumbo Covid centre at Richardson and Cruddas in Mulund (E) on Monday morning, only to face a delay. While security guards at the gates were allegedly not aware of the slot of 9 am for them, the teenagers also learnt there was a technical glitch. Hundreds of them and their parents were stranded outside. But within an hour, vaccination started and continued smoothly till 5pm.

Satish Nair, a Mulund resident, had come for the jab for his 16-year-old daughter. "We had booked a slot between 9am and 11am but when we reached, the security guards were not aware of this and didn't let us in. Many parents like me had to stand in the sun with our kids until they let us in," he said.

Heer grimaces while taking the shot as her father offers support

Nair's daughter, Shriya was the first to get the vaccine. The student of SIES College, Sion said, "Except for the initial issues, the process was seamless. To get protection from Covid-19, that too during the rising Omicron cases, is good. Every teenager should get jabbed". Preeti Sathe, 16, who studies in Std X, said, "Me and my friends were excited about this. None of us were worried about the side effects but we want protection from this virus, so we can lead a normal life again."

'No second thoughts'

Heer Pawani, 16, a Std XII student of SK Somaiyya College, had come to the centre with her father. She said, "I had no fear or second thoughts about the vaccine. In fact every eligible person should take the vaccine. When this drive was announced, I called up my friends and we decided to get jabbed on the first day."

Vicky Pawani, her father said, "My parents have been jabbed, so are me and my wife. So when this drive for kids was announced, my daughter came to me and said she wants to get the dose. We trust out country's scientists and we all should protect our kids by getting them the vaccine."

Siddharth More, another teenager, who had come to the centre with his mother, said, "For two years I couldn't go out much, met only few of my friends due to Covid. Now again cases are rising. I want this pandemic to go as early as possible, for that everyone should get vaccinated, I am contributing towards it by getting jabbed."

The Mulund Covid centre had 3 different categories for vaccinations. Apart from Online and Offline, a special category was made for Municipal Corporation schools' students. On the first day on Monday, 115 corporation students were brought for vaccination.

Chaaya Bhosale, a teacher at PK Road Municipal School said, "We had given consent forms to students' parents for the vaccination. There are mixed reactions from the parents. Most of the parents gave consent while some have shown hesitancy. We hope the response will get better with every passing day".

Officials speak

"Unfortunately, there was an initial technical glitch delaying the vaccination and creating a little bit chaos, but we soon rectified it. We have enough stock of vaccines. Unlike adult vaccination, this drive will gain momentum by word of mouth as parents will see the effect of vaccines on other kids and then will give consent for the same for their children," said Dr. Pradeep Angre, head, Mulund Jumbo Covid Centre.

"We have 1,300 children from municipal schools eligible for vaccines in T ward. We want them to get vaccinated as early possible. We have kept BEST buses for students and teachers to travel to the centre and back to school," said Rahul Salunkhe, health officer, T ward.

Voices

Shriya Nair, 16, student
‘To get protection from Covid-19, that too during the rising Omicron cases, is good. Every teenager should get jabbed'

Preeti Sathe, 16, student
‘My friends and I were excited about this. None of us were worried about the side effects but we want protection from this virus, so we can lead a normal life again'

420
No. of total kids vaccinated

115
No. of BMC school students vaccinated among them