Were desperately waiting for the vaccine: Senior citizens at Hindu Mahasabha Hospital in Ghatkopar

Mahendra Doshi, 85, and his wife Usha, 82, got vaccinated after waiting for five hours

The Hindu Mahasabha Hospital at Ghatkopar West is the only private hospital in the Eastern suburbs giving COVID-19 vaccines to senior citizens. At least 102 senior citizens had registered for the vaccine on Day 1, Monday, but a technical glitch with the COWIN app made them wait for it for over six hours.

Hindu Mahasabha Hospital is the only private hospital in the Eastern suburbs giving the vaccine to senior citizens. Pics/Rajesh Gupta

On the spot registration for the vaccine priced at Rs 250 started on March 1 around 9am. The Hindu Mahasabha Hospital had set up 3 vaccine units with the capacity to inoculate 300 to 600 people. But the technical glitch with the COWIN app caused issues for the hospital administration. It was resolved by 3.30 pm.

The hospital's Medical Director Dr Vaibhav Deogirkar and his team had tried their level best to rectify the error. Senior citizens were getting anxious just waiting. Prakash, 63, and Priyanka Prabhu, 62, residents of Mulund, waited for a long time too. "We reached here by 9.30 am and are still waiting for the vaccine. I don't know why they are relying on a website to go live, when they have a list of people who have registered" asked Priyanka Prabhu, a former BMC employee. The Prabhus got the vaccine by 3.30 pm.

Hema Mehta, a 64-year-old Ghatkopar resident had come with her son to get the vaccine. "It was a really tough period for us. My son had contracted COVID-19 and we had to get home quarantined. I was desperately waiting for the vaccine. I believe within a couple of months we can live our routine life like we used to," she said. Mehta who arrived at around 11am, took the jab at 3.45pm. "It was just a matter of a few hours, I didn't even feel I got injected. It was so smooth and easy," she added.

Mahendra Doshi, 85, and his wife Usha, 82, waited patiently for more than five hours. Doshi said, "The government could have managed it more efficiently or they could have allowed walk in vaccinations for the common man. I don't know why there is such a buzz about COWIN. Anyways, me and my wife received the first shot. I am not feeling any issue with it. I will urge every senior citizen to get the vaccine as soon as possible."

The hospital had a different set up for vaccination with proper seating and guiding arrangements for senior citizens. Assistance was available for citizens who struggled to walk or needed support. "We are trying our level best to give a better experience to our elders. Apart from the technical glitch there were no issues. Day one was a bit chaotic, but we will enhance the facilities to achieve a hassle free process," said Dr Deogirkar.