BMC set to bust vaccine myths
MUMBAI: Even as 4,000 beneficiaries are set to get vaccinated on the first day of the vaccination drive in Mumbai on Saturday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has trained 7,000 individuals to carry out a campaign to bust any myths and misconceptions about the Covid-19 vaccine. The drive will kickstart by 11am, and the BMC has been readying its nine vaccination centres with 139,500 doses.
Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray will launch the vaccination drive at the BandraKurla Complex (BKC) jumbo Covid facility. The nine vaccination centres in Mumbai include four major hospitals namely KEM, BYL Nair, Cooper and Sion, followed by four peripheral hospitals namely Bhabha Hospital in Bandra, VN Desai Hospital in Santacruz, Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar and Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital in Kandivali; and the facility at BKC.
As part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s live video interaction with health care workers to be held across the country on Saturday, arrangements of the video conference will be made at RN Cooper Hospital at Vile Parle. It is being said that Modi will also interact with some beneficiaries at these centres.
A press statement issued by the BMC on Friday stated that 7,000 people have been trained to spearhead the mythbuster campaign and another 10,000 are still undergoing training. Civic officials said these individuals will move across the city and conduct public announcements at various places.
Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner, said, “Even after the vaccine is administered, all citizens should make sure regular use of masks, social distancing and hand washing is continued.”
On the first day of the vaccination, the BMC has set a target of vaccinating 4,000 beneficiaries through 40 booths that will be set up on that day. At every centre, 10 to 20 doctors will be on standby to attend to any emergency. Overall, around 200 doctors, over 100 nurses and around 500 volunteers will participate in the drive. Meanwhile, the pending maintenance work on the regional vaccine store (RVS) in Kanjurmarg has been completed.