The Municipal Corporation of Mumbai will commence its door-to-door vaccination drive for bedridden people and those who are unable to go to vaccination centres due to medical conditions.
The drive that has been started on an experimental basis will begin from K/East Ward of Andheri, Vile Parle and Jogeshwari. The corporation will seek the cooperation of Project Mumbai, a non-governmental service-oriented organisation, for this initiative that will kickstart from July 30.
The BMC has reached out to the family members of the bedridden people with details required for the vaccine registration. One can also write an email to the corporation for a vaccination request with details on [email protected]. The BMC so have registered 4,466 people eligible for this drive.
Officials say they are also working with both the Centre and the State governments to expedite the vaccination process for citizens of all age groups.
Meanwhile, the State government has also laid down some basic guidelines for vaccinating bedridden people. The person who is to be vaccinated will be bedridden for at least the next six months, along with the issuance of medical certificates and the consent of such persons/relatives will be required to submit to the administration.
Also, a committee of experts has instructed such individuals to be vaccinated with the Covaxin vaccine. Vaccination will be done in the presence of experts and all the necessary procedures will be followed. Once vaccinated on an experimental basis, the next step will be to consider what factors need to be included in the procedure.
The BMC is also working with the Central and State governments to expedite the vaccination for citizens of all age groups. But due to the shortage of vaccine doses, several centres are witnessing people waiting in queues for long hours.
A Beneficiary at SIES Hospital, Kandivali
I’ve been waiting since 3 am for my second dose, hope to get it at this hospital. For three days, I visited NESCO Centre. They only have 25 daily doses, now I’ve come here. I thought it’s better here than going to Goregaon if that’s the case everywhere.
Another Beneficiary At SIES, Kandivali:
I’m standing in queue for my wife’s second dose. Don’t want her to get exposed when her turn comes will call her. But there is total mismanagement. We have prepared a list of people in the queue today so that those taking shortcuts don’t take away our chance as doses are limited. It happens here, guards and other people at the hospital let their known ones inside first. It’s a sorry state of affairs.
An 84-year-old Beneficiary:
I’m 84 years old, from today I’m eligible for a second dose and have come here early in the morning. Don’t know when will this start and when my turn will come as there is already a line.
Akurli Maternity Centre, Kandivali, Beneficiary
After having food last night, we stood in line for vaccination at this centre. I’m waiting since 3 am in line what to say, it’s 8:30 am but no one from the vaccination department is here. There is total mismanagement here. Several times, they put up a board that there are no vaccines and local politicians and influential people bring their own people from elsewhere in buses and they are given vaccination. Those waiting in line have to suffer due to this.
Looking at the complaints and plight of beneficiaries who are faced with unfair treatment at the vaccine centres, the BMC has now decided that the announcement of slots would be made at 5.30 pm on social media. The timings of the vaccination centres have also been fixed from 9 am to 5.30 pm, although centres that wish to extend can do so.
To accelerate the vaccination process in slum pockets, CSR drives are being encouraged by corporates. Additional Municipal Commissioner of BMC, says a special drive will raise coverage in slums, special camps will be set up inside slum pockets and registration will be done on the spot from next week.
Nearly 17 lakh people in Mumbai are fully vaccinated while 36.14 lakh have got the first dose. But Mumbai has an adult population of 93 lakh.
Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News here.
Comments
0 comment