BMC to increase CVCs next week as it expects more kids to come for vaccination after exams

A woman gets a dose of vaccine at BYL Nair Hospital. Pic/Ashish Raje

After a dismal show by children on Day 1 of their vaccination on Wednesday, the Covid Vaccination Centres( CVCs) saw a four-fold increase in footfall on Thursday.

As per the data, while 117 beneficiaries visited the centres on March 16, this number increased to 416 on Thursday (March 17). The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) expects an increase in footfall after exams.

Suresh Kakani, additional commissioner, BMC, says, "After analyzing the response we have received, we expect there will be an increase in the footfall after March 21. In many schools, final exams are being conducted and students expect to take vaccines once they are over. We are planning to increase the number of CVCs next week as children in Mumbai will get done with exams by then."

Kakani adds, "While there are only 12 dedicated centres functional for the kids' vaccination drive currently, the increase in CVC options from Monday will help them choose the nearest CVC in their locality rather than navigating one of the 12 dedicated centres."

Dr Shailesh Mohite, dean of RN Cooper Hospital in Vile Parle, says, "While on Day 1 not a single beneficiary visited the centre, the number increased to 40 on March 17. We hope to get more beneficiaries in the coming days."

Dr Rajesh Dere, Dean of the Jumbo Covid Care Centre and vaccination centre at the Bandra Kurla Complex, says, "80 beneficiaries visited the centre on Day 2. Slowly the response to the vaccination drive is increasing. While there were few technical glitches on the first day, the second day went smoothly."

Dr Sangeeta Rawat, dean, KEM Hospital, says, "On the second day of the drive there were over 19 beneficiaries at our centre. The vaccination drive went hassle-free."

On the occasion of the Holi festival, the vaccination centres in the city for beneficiaries for all age groups will be closed.

"Vaccination will be closed on Friday, March 18, at government and municipal vaccination centres in Mumbai due to the Holi festival. We will resume the vaccination drive on Saturday," reads a BMC statement.

Compared to BMC-run CVCs, the state government-run CVC at Sir JJ Hospital is hardly getting any footfall. While on Day 1 of kids' vaccination 7 beneficiaries visited the CVC, the number increased to 9 on Thursday.