Citizens irked over suspension of COVID-19 vaccination drive in Mumbai
(Sourced from PTI)
Mumbaikars expressed unhappiness over the suspension of the COVID-19 vaccination drive at civic and government-run centers in Mumbai on Thursday due to a shortage of vaccine doses and raised questions over the management of the inoculation program. Some residents also wondered if this was a bid to "divert people to private hospitals" for paid jabs rather than getting free vaccine doses at government centers.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Wednesday informed about the suspension of the inoculation drive for a day. The repeated suspension of the vaccination drive due to a shortage of vaccine doses has irked local residents. Last month also, the inoculation drive was suspended once due to the unavailability of a sufficient number of vaccine doses.
"Private hospitals have got thrice their normal quota for tomorrow whereas the free vaccination centers are shut. Scam to divert people to private hospitals," citizen Azmina Kotadiya said in her tweet. Some people, who had booked their appointments for the COVID-19 jabs on Thursday, were confused whether they would receive their respective doses or not.
"Our appointment is already scheduled on CoWIN at a government center tomorrow morning for COVAXIN second dose. So does it stand canceled now?" another citizen Payal Mukherjee asked in her tweet.
"Dear Mumbaikars, Please note that all BMC and Government vaccination centers will remain closed tomorrow (July 1, 2021). We apologize for the inconvenience. Please watch this space for updates regarding vaccination centers and schedules," the BMC tweeted on Wednesday. The civic body in a statement said the vaccination drive will resume once it receives the fresh stock of vaccines.
मुंबईकरांनो,
— माझी Mumbai, आपली BMC (@mybmc) June 30, 2021
आम्ही सूचित करू इच्छितो की उद्या (१ जुलै, २०२१) बृहन्मुंबई महानगरपालिका व शासकीय लसीकरण केंद्रांमध्ये लसीकरण केले जाणार नाही.
आपल्याला होणाऱ्या गैरसोयीबद्दल आम्ही दिलगीर आहोत.
लसीकरण केंद्र व वेळापत्रकाविषयीच्या पुढील सूचना आम्ही देत राहू.#MyBMCvaccinationUpdate
The BMC further said that the citizens of Mumbai are continuously informed about the vaccination, depending upon the stock of vaccines received, and an appropriate decision is taken. So far, 54,35,731 citizens have been inoculated in the metropolis. Out of them, 10,72,578 beneficiaries have received the second dose of the vaccine as well, as per the BMC.
On Wednesday, 63,579 people received the jabs, including 20,259 who got the second dose. Currently, there are 399 COVID-19 vaccination centers in Mumbai - 281 operated by the BMC, 20 government-run, and 98 private facilities.
