Mumbai: Soon, a drive-in vaccination centre in each ward

Over 400 people were given the shots on the first day at the Dadar drive-in facility. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

Buoyed by the overwhelming response to its drive-in vaccination initiative at Dadar's Kohinoor parking lot, the BMC has decided to start one such vaccine delivery point in each of its 24 wards within 24 hours. These facilities will be open to citizens above 60 years of age, but only by appointment. Officials have been told to make arrangements to ensure smooth traffic flow near such centres.

A senior citizen is administered a shot at the drive-in centre at Kohinoor parking lot in Dadar on Wednesday. Pic/Suresh Karkera

The drive-in vaccination centres will come up at places like the Andheri Sports Club ground, Cooperage Ground, Shivaji Stadium, Oval Maidan, Brabourne Stadium, MiG Ground, MCA Ground, Reliance Jio Garden, Wankhede Stadium, Sambhaji Udyan (Mulund), Subhash Nagar and Tilak Nagar grounds in Chembur, Ghatkopar Police ground, Shivaji Maidan (Chunabhatti), as per a circular released by the civic body on Thursday.

BMC officials have been told to provide adequate facilities to vaccination staff and provide space for ambulances to tackle cases of adverse reaction, if any. They have also been asked to instal mobile toilets and drinking water facilities. "The beneficiary citizen to be vaccinated shall not self drive and he/she shall be accompanied by an attendant or a driver in each vehicle to deal with AEFI [Adverse event following immunization], if any," says the circular.

No appointment, no vax

Meanwhile, faced with a deluge of complaints of mismanagement and chaos at vaccination centres across the city, the BMC has made CoWIN registration and appointments mandatory for the shots. Officials said too many people were thronging vaccine delivery points, particularly after the 18+ category was included in the drive after May 1, amid a shortage of doses. The situation has also left scores of senior citizens waiting for their second jab anxious.

Chaos prevails outside the vaccination point at MMRC COVID centre in Dahisar on Thursday. Pic/Satej Shinde

Civic chief Iqbal Singh Chahal issued a circular on Thursday announcing the decision after discussing overcrowding with state minister Aaditya Thackeray. Officials said it was not possible to maintain social distancing and they had to restrict the flow of people to vaccination centres. "It is hereby directed that all citizens who wish to get vaccinated against Covid-19 shall in advance register themselves on the CoWIN portal and also book the appointment slot at the CVC of their choice on the same portal before proceeding to the Vaccination Centre," reads the circular.

There are exceptions

Health care and frontline workers carrying relevant documents will be allowed to walk in for their doses. Also, those above 45 years of age and who are due for their second dose of Covaxin can also walk to a centre with a copy of their first dose certificate. The staff at the vaccine centres will verify the documents before allowing such persons to take the jabs. But the circular is silent on those who have taken Covishield and are due for their second dose. It's unclear if they will be allowed to walk in.

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No. of hrs within which the centres will be set up