Mumbai waits for new stock to revive COVID-19 vaccine centres

The remaining stock at centres was expected to be over by Wednesday itself. Pic/Ashish Raje

Many public and private vaccination centres were closed on Wednesday amid the ongoing shortage. The BMC was expecting a new consignment on Wednesday night. If the stock were to fail to reach on time, 40 private vaccination centres are expected to be closed on Thursday while the remaining 33 open ones would only administer the second dose.

The city nearly ran out of stock on Wednesday. According to a note published by the BMC, 24,58,600 vaccines were made available to it till April 25. Of these, 24,10,860 vaccines have been used. There were 47,740 vaccine doses left at centres till 2 pm on Wednesday. This stock was expected to be utilised fully on Wednesday itself.

Many civic centres also put up boards announcing the availability of stock to prevent crowds. In the northern suburbs, the Dahisar COVID centre, Ambedkar hospital, Kandivli; NESCO, Goregaon were closed for vaccination. Only 200 people were allowed inside at Bhagwati hospital, Borivli. There was a crowd outside the gate, too. "We have been told that if any stock remains after giving the vaccine to people in the queue, the rest will get it. So we are waiting," a citizen waiting outside the gate said.

The BMC appealed to the people to come for vaccination only if they are up for a second dose. "Due to limited availability of COVID vaccines, the vaccination drive has to be temporarily stopped at some centres from time to time," said a BMC official.

In the second shift on Tuesday and the first shift on Wednesday, 44,629 doses were given, out of which, 24,358 people were given as a second dose; 21,730 people above the age of 60 and 18,322 people between the age of 45 and 59 years were given the vaccination.

200
No. of people allowed inside Bhagwati hospital's centre