Mumbai: Nearly two lakh in city have got both COVID-19 vaccine doses

A vaccination centre in Dahisar on Saturday. Pic/Satej Shinde

The decision on whether to start privately-run vaccination centres will be taken if more stock comes in by Monday, said Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani. After the city's vaccine stock dropped to nearly zero by Friday night, the BMC received 99,000 doses of Covishield late on Friday night, thus making it possible to start vaccination centres across various civic and state government hospitals on Saturday. And the BMC will be receiving another 1.35 lakh doses by Saturday night.

While on an average, the city is inoculating about close to 50,000 beneficiaries every day, the stock available with the civic body will be enough to last for another five days, said civic officials. However, with private hospitals shut, shortage of vaccine and the rising number of cases, coupled with the weekend lockdown, the number of those who came in for inoculation was low on Saturday. Kakani added, "If we receive more doses by Monday, we will start the drive at private hospitals again."

The total turnout for the vaccine - including senior citizens, those aged 45 and above and health and frontline workers - on Saturday was 21,094 across 49 vaccination centres. Meanwhile, a total of 16,35,372 beneficiaries have been inoculated out of which 1,85,662 have been administered both doses. Four patients suffered adverse effects on Saturday after taking the jab.

The turnout of senior citizens was 3,970, whereas those aged 45 and above accounted for 14,220. Also, 615 health care workers were administered vaccine shots. Vaccination will continue on Sunday from 9 am to 5 pm.