Mumbai: How Jumbo Centre, hospitals will turn vaccine dispensers

A few hours from now a dry run to check preparedness for COVID19 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 directivesDoctors and staff prepare for the vaccine dry run at Cooper Hospital PicSatej ShindeA 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 largeStaff prepare for the COVID19 vaccine dry run at Dr R N Cooper Municipal General Hospital on Thursday PicSatej ShindeAsked 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 airconditioned storage to keep 90 lakh vials of vaccines at any given point in timeA separate observation area postvaccination at the Jumbo Centre BKCJumbo Centre at BKC preparedDr 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 roundtheclock by a senior intensivist two junior RMOs and ICU techniciansStaff at the Rajawadi Hospital are prepared for the dry runDr Dere added This will be a oneday 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 roundtheclock helpline number will be set up so that vaccinated people can reach the doctors anytime for post vaccination complexities like ndash allergy fever vomiting nausea etcReady to handle vaccinationsDr Vidya Thakur medical superintendent at Rajawadi hospital said We have converted our old Out Patient Department OPD area of over 2000 sq feet for COVID19 vaccination We have five vaccination counters where registered health care workers who have come in direct and indirect contact with COVID19 patients will be provided the vaccinesAsked to elaborate on the vaccination she said We have 1000 frontline registered health care workers which include an ambulance driver a pharmacist who have directly or indirectly come in contact with SARSCoV2 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 applicationbased registration process We areready to handle the vaccination programme as and when it comes in due course of timePrakash 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 successAlready training staffDr 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 SARSCoV2 patients will be given the vaccineAll 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 Gujjar1 lakhNo of people who have volunteered to get vaccinated