Mumbai: What second dose? Many are queuing up for first shot of Covid-19 vaccine

The BMC may have instructed vaccination centres to give preference to those who have to take the second dose of the vaccine, but more than 30 lakh are yet to receive the first dose

Mumbai: What second dose? Many are queuing up for first shot of Covid-19 vaccine

People queue up for the vaccine at the Acworth Municipal General Hospital For Leprosy in Wadala on August 17. Pic/Ashish Raje

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) may have issued an advisory about vaccination centres giving preference to second doses of the vaccine, but the number of citizens waiting for the first dose is so high that this cannot be executed on the ground. The number of people coming for their second doses at private centres is also low compared to people seeking their first dose.

In August, more than 11 lakh citizens are eligible for the second dose of the vaccines. But only 4.4 lakh have received it, with just one more week left. Of these, 2.25 lakh have taken the second dose at public centres. The centres gave the first dose to more than 4.85 lakh people, though the BMC declared that they could reserve 70 per cent of the vaccines for second doses at the beginning of the month.

The decision could have been right considering the huge number of people waiting for their second dose. But on ground level, the vaccination centres are dealing with long queues of people since early morning every day, as more than 30 lakh (most of them in the age group of 18 to 44 years) have not received even one dose.

Also read: Mumbai: BMC sets up Covid-19 vaccination centre for trans persons, LGBTQIA+ community in Vikhroli

‘Can’t refuse doses’

“We give preference for second doses when there is a limited number of vaccines available at centres, but when fresh stock arrives we try to give as many doses as possible as people wait outside in huge numbers,” said Kiran Dighavkar, assistant commissioner of G North Ward comprising Dadar, Mahim and Dharavi.

“In our ward, we also have to deal with people who come to their workplaces and not just the residents of nearby areas. We see that people who are near completion of the gap of their second dose get the vaccines, but it is difficult to turn down people coming for their first dose,” said Chanda Jadhav, assistant commissioner of A Ward consisting of Fort, Nariman Point, Colaba areas.

“We have given instructions to give preference to second dose seekers,” was the only reply of Suresh Kakani, additional commissioner of the BMC, when questioned about the issue.

Rajul Patel, chairperson of the health committee said, “The number of people coming to us for the second dose is comparatively low. The BMC gives priority to them and no one is left without a dose if there is stock available.”