Mumbai: 8,000 Chembur residents to get jabs at home

An elderly man gets his shot at Surana Sethia Hospital and Research Centre in Chembur

In a major vaccination drive over the weekend, a local hospital in Chembur - Surana Sethia Hospital and Research Centre - is all set to offer doorstep vaccines to a number of housing societies in the area. A total of 8,000 beneficiaries have been listed for the drive, which will eventually be extended to smaller housing societies.

Speaking to mid-day, Dr Prince Surana, CEO of Surana Group of Hospitals, said, "Over the coming weekend, we are conducting doorstep vaccinations at 15 housing societies. These are the bigger housing societies in Chembur with an approximate population of 8,000." He added that the drive would be extended to the smaller housing societies the following week.

"We have already got in touch with the smaller housing societies and have asked them to form a cluster. Within a week we plan to cover the majority of Chembur's population. At the same time, we will continue with the vaccinations at the hospital," said Dr Surana. He further added that this drive would prevent overcrowding at the hospital and maximum people would be inoculated at the comfort of their homes.

People wait to get vaccinated at Surana Research Centre in Chembur

"Also, if an entire housing society is vaccinated, it will reduce the spread of the virus. We had asked the housing societies to collect data of residents and register them on the CoWin portal in advance. We will have a team of 10 people - four to five vaccinators, one doctor, three to four coordinators and a helper - in each housing society. We have given them slots throughout the day. There will be an ambulance with paramedical staff who will be well equipped to handle emergencies if any," said Dr Surana.

Also Read: Mumbai: Shortage to delay Covid-19 vaccine sessions at hsg societies

Speaking about the drive, Sidhharth Mahadevan, 18, resident of one of the Raheja Acropolis Phase II housing societies, said he was set to travel to the Netherlands in August to pursue a course in industrial design. "Given the current Covid-19 situation in India, it is ideal to get vaccinated and have the certificate before flying abroad for higher studies. My father and I have been trying our luck all these days to get slots on CoWin but have failed. This vaccination drive has come as a big relief to us as I'll get both the jabs before travelling to the Netherlands," Mahadevan added.

Another resident, AN Philipose, 89, said, "Because of my age and other comorbidities, my doctor had advised me against going to vaccination centres as most of them are crowded. I also have mobility issues, which made it difficult for me to step out for vaccination all these months. Surana hospital team coming to our housing society for vaccinations is great news. I will finally get my first jab."

More than 80 per cent of the population in the listed housing societies falls in the 18-44 age group.

72,005
Total no. of vaccine shots given in Chembur so far

Housing societies part of the drive

. Raheja Acropolis
. Navjivan
. RNO Continental
. Raheja Acropolis 2
. Safal twins
. Basant Park
. Neelkanth
. Kukreja
. Raheja Phase 1
. Golf scape
. Godrej Prime
. Apar Industries & Gulab Park
. Supradha
. Hari kunj & Panorama