While people crowded at various vaccination centres since early morning, the BMC had to continue with the inoculation process till late in the evening.
Beneficiaries get vaccinated at Nair Hospital on Tuesday. Pic/Ashish Raje
Even the second day of the Phase 2 of the vaccination drive for senior citizens and those above 45 years of age with comorbidities was marred by glitches in the CoWIN app and delays, while beneficiaries waited in long queues outside centres. This happened even though more civic centres were included in the drive on Tuesday. However, amid the chaos, the BMC can heave a sigh of relief as the central government has approved 29 major private hospitals in the city to be part of the vaccination drive for the elderly.
ADVERTISEMENT
While people crowded at various vaccination centres since early morning, the BMC had to continue with the inoculation process till late in the evening. NESCO Jumbo Centre had to work till 8.30 pm as senior citizens who had queued up there did not wish to leave without being vaccinated. Whereas, for the second day in a row, the BKC Jumbo Centre saw people crowding during the morning hours even as the system remained down. The chaos and delay also affected the vaccination process of healthcare and frontline workers.
On Tuesday, 6,263 senior citizens and 590 people above 45 years of age turned up for the vaccination. The total turnout on Tuesday was 12,907, including healthcare and frontline workers, whereas the expected was 10,600. While Monday saw five government facilities operating for the phase 2, on Tuesday all the civic and government centres that have been operating for the drive till date were opened up.
Requesting anonymity, a health department official said, “We have strictly advised our healthcare workers to follow the guidelines and timings. We also appeal to citizens to not crowd at vaccination centres as there is enough stock available and everyone eligible for vaccines will get their doses.”
Owing to glitches in the CoWIN app, many senior citizens could not be registered on the spot and had to return. The number of healthcare workers who were administered the first dose on Tuesday was 1,091 and 2,713 took their second shots. The number of frontline workers vaccinated on Tuesday was 2,250. While six cases of adverse effects were reported on Tuesday, they were minor ones.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
