Mumbai, the wait just got longer! No vaccine in private hospitals

Police manage citizens at the vaccination facility at MMRC Dedicated COVID Health Centre in Dahisar on Friday. Pic/Satej Shinde

With the civic body deciding to not provide vaccine stock to private hospitals, citizens now have limited choices and will have to wait longer to get vaccinated at private hospitals. Civic sources said that private hospitals will have to fend for themselves as the civic body will focus on government and civic centres. Many citizens prefer visiting private hospitals, especially since long queues and crowding at civic centres have become a concern.

Sachin Parkar, a Chembur resident, said, "I want to register my father on the portal but when I was looking for options around me, only Rajawadi hospital appeared and there too, the slots were full. I am worried about taking him there as my neighbours told me that the queues are long and there's too much crowd. I hardly have any choice left but at the same time, I am also scared of taking a senior citizen to a crowded place."

Citizens get vaccinated at Nair hospital on Friday. Pic/Ashish Raje

The civic body decided to vaccinate people only by appointment and issued a circular for the same. However, while the decision is aimed at reducing crowds, it will also lead to slower vaccination as the centres are far and few.

A doctor working at a private hospital, said, "We are not given any directives on what we should be doing and how we are to source the doses. We keep getting enquiries from people and we have to tell them that even we are waiting for answers. The priority of providing doses is given to the government."

The city currently has only five civic-run centres and two private ones - Nanavati hospital and HN Reliance hospital, who procured their own stock - giving vaccinations.

Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner

Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani said, "We are focusing on providing doses to government- and civic-run vaccination centres and will be allowing entry only to those with an appointment to avoid crowds. Citizens must register themselves and take appointments. We are also opening centres in various areas and there is a plan to have one centre in each of the 227 wards so that more options are available for citizens in their vicinity."

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No. of civic centres conducting the vaccination drive