Mumbai: Senior citizens exceed all expectations in getting vaccinated

The BMC will act against the mask-less at vaccination centres too. Pic/Ashish Raje

While the comorbid aged between 45 and 59 years still look hesitant about the vaccine, considering hardly 8,000 have taken it so far, senior citizens have surpassed all expectations and over 76,000 have been inoculated in the past one week.

Mumbaikars throw caution and social distancing to the wind as they gather for an outing at Juhu beach on Sunday. Pic/Satej Shinde

On the other hand, frontline workers, too, have started taking their second shot, leaving the BMC administration waiting for more doses.

With crowds burgeoning at vaccination centres, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) now wants to ensure that everyone observes COVID-appropriate behaviour and is always wearing a mask. It is also planning to take action against mask-less citizens at the vaccination centres.

BMC mulls marshals at centres
Amid rising cases, senior citizens, who are at a higher risk, were seen crowding at vaccination centres throughout last week.

Facing heat over the crowding and delays at vaccination centres, the civic body increased the number of volunteers to take care of citizens at various locations.

"After the chaos throughout last week, we are considering a round-up of marshals or asking our health officials at on-the-spot registration counters at five of the vaccination centres to keep things in check.
We want to ensure that the COVID-appropriate behaviour is observed and that nobody is without a mask," said a civic official not willing to be named.

The official added, "We are also waiting for the vaccine consignment to come in as the second dose for both health and frontline workers is now due."

76k
No. of senior citizens vaccinated so far