Day 7 of Covid vaccination: Mumbai sees 68% turnout
BMC increases the number of centres to 11 by starting immunisation at Sevenhills Hospital
MUMBAI: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) completed seven days of Covid-19 immunisation in Mumbai on Wednesday with 68% turnout. Of the 7,700 selected healthcare workers, 5,197 were vaccinated. Eight people experienced minor giddiness, called adverse event following immunisation (AEFI), and were kept under observation for 30 minutes before being discharged.
The civic body increased its vaccination centres from 10 to 11, by starting vaccination at the Seven Hills hospital in the western suburbs, along with the 10 existing vaccination centres that have been functional since January 16. In the coming days, the BMC will also add more vaccination centres, including the jumbo Covid-19 facilities at Nesco in Goregaon, Dahisar, Mulund, and the jumbo facility at Richarson and Cruddas (RC) in Byculla.
The 10 existing vaccination centres in Mumbai are four major hospitals – King Edward Memorial Hospital, BYL Nair Hospital, Cooper Hospital and Sion hospital; four peripheral hospitals - Bhabha at Bandra, VN Desai at Santacruz, Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar and Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar hospital, Kandivli; the Covid facility at Bandra Kurla Complex; and the state-run JJ Hospital in South Mumbai.
So far, BMC has vaccinated a total of 23,339 healthcare workers over seven days, of which 35 people reported minor AEFI immediately after receiving the shots. None had to be hospitalised so far.
Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner incharge of the public health department in the civic body, said, “We started with 40 booths at 10 centres. We have got permission from the government to increase the booths. We will start vaccination at Nesco jumbo facility on Thursday or Friday, and eventually also start vaccination at the jumbo facilities in Dahisar, Mulund, and RC Byculla in a phased manner.” On the first three days of the vaccination drive, on January 16, 19, and 20, Mumbai saw turnout between 50% and 52%, which increased to 92% on the fourth day (January 22), and 90% on the fifth day (January 23). On the sixth day, Mumbai saw 77%, turnout, but had vaccinated 5,005 healthcare workers.