Mumbai: At Rajawadi, top doctor takes first jab to instill faith

Dr Vidya Thakur

The vaccination drive at the BMC-run Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar kicked off with its superintendant taking the first shot. Many senior doctors from the hospital were next, in a move to encourage juniors' confidence in the vaccine. With skepticism rising about the safety of the vaccines, this they felt, may act as an encouragement.

Rajawadi Hospital is the only vaccination centre in Eastern Mumbai. "It's a big day for all health workers, we have witnessed the worst during the pandemic and we hope this is a new beginning of our life," said Dr Vidya Thakur, medical superintendent of the hospital.

The hospital has come up with a token system in which beneficiaries have to wait after registration for their number to be displayed on the screen. The centre has five rooms for vaccination. A large waiting room is where recipients can wait post vaccination, where there are beds in case someone has an adverse reaction to the vaccine. However, till evening not a single case of reaction was reported.

Leena Mandlekar and Seema Bhavsar, supervisors in Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) with N ward, had come with 25 anganwadi workers, each. "Some of our sevikas were not keen on taking the shot till yesterday. Today, we took the shot and have circulated this picture in our group. And suddenly there is enthusiasm about the drive," said Mandlekar.

For Nandkishor Lalge, senior technician in the radiology department at Rajawadi Hospital, who had undergone an 18-day treatment for COVID-19, Saturday was a dream. "We never thought this day would come so early. As a healthcare worker, I have seen the worst. Let's hope now everything will be ok here onwards," he said, awaiting his turn for the vaccination.