Ineligible people book slots at camps for parents
The special vaccination camps for parents of children younger than 12 saw many ineligible people arriving for the shot, in both Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar on Tuesday, the first day of these camps.
The camps are called “Abhibhavak” on the CO-WIN portal with the disclaimer that it is meant “exclusively for parents of children below 12 years of age”.
Both districts had two such camps each and the turnout was relatively poor.
The camps were at Kailash Manasarowar Bhawan in Indirapuram and Delhi Public School Ghaziabad, Meerut Road (DPSG). Only 75 out of the total 200 doses were used.
“More than 50 people who arrived at DPSG were unmarried or did not have children. Many said they had booked the slots in haste to get the shot and overlooked the eligibility criteria. So, we turned them all away,” said an officer from health department deployed at the centre.
An official at the Indirapuram centres said 10 to 12 people had been turned away over similar reasons.
“Such issues crop up on the inaugural day. We ask those bookings slots to carefully check their respective categories,” said Ghaziabad chief medical officer Dr N K Gupta.
GB Nagar health department said they could vaccinate only 137 people out of the 300 they had expected at the Bisrakh primary health centre and JP International School centres.
“Many ineligible people also booked their slots here,” said Dr Deepak Ohri, chief medical officer of GB Nagar.
The special camps were created on directions from the UP government. It has been stressing on protecting children who could contract the virus in the event of a third wave.
“The staff deployed at the centre was very cooperative and they guided us through the entire process. Further, the arrangement at the school premises was also up to the mark with proper seating, drinking water and other arrangements. Otherwise, people expect they have to stand in long queues and face troubles at government centres,” said Sanjeev Kumar, a beneficiary from Shastri Nagar.
Schools popular
Several schools have also come forward and opted to provide their premises as vaccination centre.
“We started as an isolation centre from April 5 to May 21 and it was also an oxygen aid centre. About 70 patients got benefitted. Now, we have taken a short break and preparing for a vaccination centre with 20003000 vaccination proposed in a day. This will be through a private hospital,” said Trilok Singh Bisht, principal of DPSG, Vasundhara.
DPSG, Meerut Road has been a vaccination site from May 24.
“Our overall target is about 500 vaccines per day. We have also allowed the elderly to get the shot in cars. Proper arrangement for wheelchairs and other basic facilities are also provided by the school,” said Yogesh Agarwal, admin officer of DPSG, Meerut Road.
Apartment owners’ associations too said they preferred nearby schools.
“Earlier we planned to have a vaccination drive in our highrises, but now we have decided to go for a nearby school as it has proper facilities. Schools will be convenient as people from other areas like Vasundhara, Vaishali and other can also come and take jabs,” said Alok Kumar, founder member of federation of association of apartment owners.