‘I took the vaccination and see, it is safe’

Tanuja Makadwala, 15, becomes the first among the 15-17 year olds to get vaccinated in the city, at BKC jumbo centre, on Monday. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

My father works as a painter. During the first lockdown, we were forced to return to our hometown in Chandauli district of Uttar Pradesh as we didn't have money for house rent. I couldn't attend my Std IX classes even online. But, now I hope this vaccine will allow us to stay here, my father can work and I will give my Std X exam," said Rajan Bari, the second child to be vaccinated in Mumbai on Monday.

Bari, who lives near Vakola bridge in Santacruz East and studies at Shastri Nagar Mumbai Public School (MPS), was vaccinated at the BKC centre. Buses full of students from civic-run schools arrived at the BKC centre, as the Covid-19 immunisation programme for 15-17 year olds kicked off on Monday.

Tanuja Makadwala, 15, was selected to get the first vaccine in the city. The Shastri Nagar MPS student thanked the government and advocated for vaccination against Covid-19. "I have taken the vaccine and see, it is safe," said the teenager, facing several cameras. "I wasn't frightened at all, as many people have already taken the vaccine and I believed that it was safe," said the resident of Shiv Nagar, Santacruz East.

Srushti Barge, student of Kiri College, Dadar

Dharmveer Prajapati and Vaishnavi Murugan, both Std IX students, were scared as they waited for their turn. "I am afraid of injections. I didn't want to come here," Murugan told mid-day. However, her fears were gone after getting the shot. "It didn't hurt at all," she said. Besides these students, several children were accompanied to the centre by their parents and guardians, who had registered online.

Tanmayi Pendurkar, a Bandra resident and student of MMK college, had come with her uncle. "We had booked the 9 am-12 pm slot, thinking that it will be over within an hour and she can join her class at 11 am. We reached here at 8.30 am. But we were told that vaccination will start only after the inauguration at 11 am. She missed her class today," said her uncle Vikas Sarfare. His son Aarya Sarfare, Std XI student of Sathye college, had also come for vaccination.

Some youngsters came in groups to take their shots. Srushti Barge, a student of Kiri College in Dadar, said, "My parents have taken the vaccine and I know it is safe. So I came to take my anti-Covid shot today."