Mumbai: CoWin app glitches mar children’s Covid-19 vaccine drive

The infamous technical glitches on the CoWIN app again played spoilsport for a while on Wednesday when vaccinations for children between 12 and 14 years of age for COVID-19 began. After waiting for two long hours in the heatwave, some of these children received the vaccine at 2 pm. The vaccination was scheduled to start at 12 noon in 12 centres but the technical glitches halted it.

A total of 124 kids aged 12-14 were vaccinated on Wednesday. Aware of the technical issues, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had opted for a slow start with only 12 vaccination centres the first day. Still, the response was very low. Very few children came to the KEM and BYL Nair hospitals. There are around 3.5 lakh to 5.5 lakh children in the age group.

The first girl to receive the vaccine at the Rajawadi Hospital, Ramona Choudhari, is given sweets. Pics/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

But the centres in the suburbs received comparatively more response, as 20 to 40 children came to Dr Ambedkar hospital at Kandivli, also at Rajawadi hospital and Goregaon's Nesco centres. However, even these children had to wait for two long hours as the centres were not getting the ‘go ahead' from senior authorities.

"We were aware of some glitches so we started the vaccination in a limited number of centres. Afterwards the vaccine will be available at 200 centres," said a BMC official. He added, "The response is low due to various reasons including that many are not aware of the programme. Many parents are hesitant due to exams or vaccines. Some children stayed away from vaccination as they don't want to miss Holi due to fever or any side effects."

Medical personnel at many centres were in a dilemma whether to open a fresh vial for a few children. "There are 20 doses of 0.5 ml in one vial of Corbevax vaccine and the doses have to be used within 3 to 4 hours after opening it," said a centre co-ordinator. "The online registration on the CoWIN app started at 2 pm, so the vaccination began after that. We anticipate more wastage of vaccine in the initial days and have instructed centres that not a single child should be turned away," said Suresh Kakani, additional commissioner of the BMC.

The first boy to receive the vaccine at the BKC vaccination centre, Dev Agarwal, on Wednesday. Pic/Shadab Khan

‘We have faith in vaccines'

The vaccination started only at 2 pm even at the NESCO centre. But parents were firm on getting their child vaccinated even if they had to wait. A resident of Bangur Nagar, Navleen Kaur, 13, was the first child to get vaccinated at NESCO. She said, "I have no fear of injections. It's great that now I can go anywhere I want." Her mother Satvinder Kaur Basin said, "We have faith in vaccines and they are for the safety of children. That's why I brought her to be vaccinated on Day 1."

A resident of Jogeshwari, Stuti Rao, 14, said, "The vaccine will help us fight the virus." "She is already in the habit of taking flu shots regularly. She didn't have any side-effects soon after the vaccine," said Jayel, Stuti's mother. As it was hot, the children were provided soft drinks. NESCO Centre in-charge, Dr Smriti Choradia said, "We have received around 1,000 doses. All arrangements were made and we also distributed a few kits to children, which had a chocolate, a comb, a shampoo, a soap, etc."

Kids take selfies after being vaccinated at the Rajawadi Hospital at Ghatkopar on Wednesday

But at least one parent was unhappy with the delay and left before the drive started. "We came at 11 am, but it's been more than two hours and the process has not started. This last-moment glitch is not acceptable as children have exams going on," said Deepak Parab father of Parag, 13. Dev Agarwal, 13, and Riya Sarsar, 13, were the first two children to get inoculated at the BKC vaccination centre. There were only 24 children at the center till evening. A resident of Kurla west, Agarwal said, "I do not doubt the vaccine. My family has taken it and no one has any problem."

Riya's father Randhir Sarsar said, "We came here at around 11 am and then got to know that the vaccination will start late. We waited till the arrangements were made. The centre also provided my child with a chocolate box and diary. It is a good gesture." Dean Dr Rajesh Dere said, "We have received 1,000 doses for vaccination. Till evening only 24 children came to take the vaccine. I think due to ongoing examinations in schools parents don't want to take risks."

KEM turns away children

Technical glitches in the CoWin app and poor response resulted in three children being turned away from the KEM hospital. While two children came before time, one girl was turned away as doctors decided to not open a 20-dose vial for one child. The Std VII student of R N Bhat High School had arrived with her mother. "I wasn't afraid and was thinking about getting vaccinated on the first day. But they told us to come tomorrow," said Sanskruti Gomale.

A boy gets jabbed at the Rajawadi Hospital. Pics/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

The coordinating doctors told mid-day that there are 20 doses in one vial and hence there was no point in wasting the entire vial as the doses are limited. The doses have to be used within 3 to 4 hours once the vial is opened. In KEM three children received vaccines around 3 pm. "On the first day, the response was low. But we hope it will increase from next week as people get aware of it," said Dr Sangeeta Rawat, dean of KEM hospital.

Nair hospital invites local kids

At the BYL Nair Hospital, after just one child arrived for the vaccination, the centre unsuccessfully invited children from the vicinity. But by the end of the day they had vaccinated only two kids. Vedant Gadge, 12, patiently waited his turn along with his brother and father from 12pm. He was told to wait till 1 pm and then his registration was completed offline. The desk confirmed his identification with an Aadhaar card and told his father that the certificate would come the next day as the online registration had not started. Vighnesh Khandre was the other child who was jabbed.

Vighnesh Khandre and (right) Vedant Ghadge get jabbed at the Nair hospital. Pics/Bipin Kokate

"We didn't want to turn away any child. So we decided to open a vial but we will try to give as many doses to children as possible today," said Dr Vasundhara Galdhar, coordinator of the vaccine centre. Though the Nair and KEM hospitals received a very poor response, more than 20 children had reached Rajawadi hospital in Ghatkopar. Ramona Choudhari, from Chembur, was the first to be jabbed at the Rajawadi centre on Wednesday. "Being vaccinated gives a feeling of safety and we can travel everywhere," said Choudhari.