Mumbai: How Jumbo Centre, hospitals will turn vaccine dispensers

The eight-bed ICU facility at the Jumbo Centre at BKC

A few hours from now, a dry run to check preparedness for COVID-19 vaccinations will begin at three BMC shortlisted centres in Mumbai. The centres - the COVID Jumbo Centre, BKC, Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar and R N Cooper Hospital in Vile Parle - have shortlisted health care workers including doctors, nurses, wardboys and support staff, who will follow the protocol that has been put in place for the dry run as per government directives.

Doctors and staff prepare for the vaccine dry run at Cooper Hospital. Pic/Satej Shinde

A detailed check list will be submitted to superiors in the civic health department to fix any gaps. Suresh Kakani, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Public Health), BMC said, "As of today, about 1 lakh people have volunteered for the vaccination programme. The vaccinations will be first given to the front line workers and at a later stage to the public at large."

Staff prepare for the COVID-19 vaccine dry run at Dr R N Cooper Municipal General Hospital on Thursday. Pic/Satej Shinde

Asked about the vaccine, (imported or indigenous) Kakani said, "We have not been informed by the central government if we are getting imported or indigenously made vaccines. As and when we get the vaccines, within 24 hours we will start the vaccination programme." He said the Kanjurmarg storage centre has an air-conditioned storage to keep 90 lakh vials of vaccines, at any given point in time.

A separate observation area post-vaccination at the Jumbo Centre, BKC

'Jumbo Centre at BKC prepared

Dr Rajesh Dere, dean of the BKC Jumbo Centre said, "We converted our phase 2, doctors' hanger area into a vaccination centre for the dry run. We have a separate entry and exit, parking bay and a waiting area for 70 people, eight registration units, cubicles and 15 independent vaccination outlets and an observation area for 50 people. We have also attached eight ICU beds to tackle any emergency, which will be manned round-the-clock by a senior intensivist, two junior RMOs and ICU technicians."

Staff at the Rajawadi Hospital are prepared for the dry run

Dr Dere added, "This will be a one-day dummy run and additional training is being provided in two batches to the doctors, nurses and paramedical team, including the ward boys. As and when the actual vaccination begins, we will be ready to handle the inflow of registered health care workers, and police. Also, a dedicated round-the-clock helpline number will be set up, so that vaccinated people can reach the doctors anytime for post vaccination complexities like - allergy, fever, vomiting, nausea etc."

'Ready to handle vaccinations'

Dr Vidya Thakur, medical superintendent at Rajawadi hospital said, "We have converted our old Out Patient Department (OPD) area of over 2,000 sq feet for COVID-19 vaccination. We have five vaccination counters, where registered health care workers who have come in direct and indirect contact with COVID-19 patients, will be provided the vaccines."

Asked to elaborate on the vaccination, she said, "We have 1,000 frontline registered health care workers which include an ambulance driver, a pharmacist, who have directly or indirectly come in contact with SARS-CoV2 patients, other than treating nurses, doctors and support staff. As of now only 25 staff will participate in the dry run today. The entire vaccine programme will be a mobile application-based registration process. We areready to handle the vaccination programme as and when it comes in due course of time."

Prakash Wani, former Shiv Sena shaka pramukh from Ghatkopar (E), who tested positive few months ago, said, "We are obliged that Rajawadi hospital has been shortlisted to carry out the dry run today. It has been designated a COVID vaccination centre which will benefit the entire eastern suburban population residing between Kurla and Mulund and even Trombay. We will provide all required support to make the vaccination programme a success."

'Already training staff'

Dr Pinakin Gujjar, dean of R N Cooper hospital, said, "We have already started training our 40 doctors and nurses each, and for the dry run, 25 health care workers are shortlisted. A separate vaccination area has been demarcated where all the registered health care workers, who were directly or indirectly in contact with SARS-CoV2 patients, will be given the vaccine."

"All the registered health care workers will be kept in the observation room post vaccination, before being allowed to leave. All protocols and guidelines will be followed as per directives," explained Dr Gujjar.

1 lakh
No. of people who have volunteered to get vaccinated