Rise in turnout prompts BMC to increase vaccination units

BMC HAS BEEN CONDUCTING THE IMMUNIZATION PROGRAMME THROUGH 10 VACCINATION CENTRES

MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will be increasing the number of active vaccination units in the city after there was a rise in the turnout of beneficiaries. Recently, BMC introduced a walk-in option after glitches in the Covid vaccine intelligence network (CoWIN) app resulted in many not receiving notifications for their inoculation appointments. CoWIN has been developed by the Central government to manage the vaccination drive.

BMC has been conducting the mass immunization programme in the city through 10 vaccination centres. In the first phase, the civic body’s target is to inoculate 4,000 healthcare workers (HCWs) daily. However, in the first three days of the vaccination drive (January 16, 19 and 20), the centres struggled to meet this target and instead barely reached the halfway mark. On Wednesday, BMC introduced the “walk in” option, which helped centres reach 93% of the daily target.

With the growing number of beneficiaries, the authorities have decided to increase the number of active vaccination units. Dr Mohan Joshi, dean of Lokmanya Tilak General Hospital (known as Sion Hospital), said the number of units at the hospital will go up from five to 10 by next week. Similarly, the jumbo Covid-19 centre at Bandra Kurla Complex will have from 10 active units from next week. At present, it has five units.

Additional municipal commissioner Suresh Kakani said, “We have also sought permission from the higher authority to increase vaccination centres which will help us to fasten the process of vaccination.”

On Friday, a few vaccination centres, like King Edward Memorial (KEM) and Rajawadi Hospitals, recorded turnouts of more than 100%. Kakani said no beneficiaries would be turned away. “No one will be sent back. On Friday, due to the rush, we also provided additional vaccinators for the inoculation. Also, all centres have enough vaccines to immunize more than their target,” said Kakani.

The civic body has said that while walk-in beneficiaries would be vaccinated, priority would be given to those with appointments generated by Co-WIN. “With time, technical glitches in the app are getting resolved. Soon, they [beneficiaries] will start getting appointment messages on time. So, to better channel the process, the first priority will be provided to the HCWs with appointments; then the walk-in beneficiaries,” Kakani said. BMC also plans to increase the number of vaccination centres. “With further rise in turnout, we will start including them among vaccination centres,” Kakani said.