‘We have no answers for distressed recipients’: Suburban private centres halt COVID-19 vaccination drive

An empty vaccination centre at Oscar Multispeciality Hospital

Private centres have been running out of stock for a few days now. Many in northern Mumbai have been closed, leaving recipients, some of whom have already taken their first dose, anxious.

In the city's northern suburbs, many private vaccination centres have suspended operations in the past few days with stocks running out and only government centres are offering the vaccines. However, even at the government centres, sources said only a few days' stock is left.

"I received my 1st dose March 13 at Lifeline Multicare Hospital and was scheduled to get my second dose on April 10. But now the centre says they are out of stock," said Vijay Shankar Mishra, 73, a retired headmaster. Mishra was supposed to go to his native place after getting the vaccine but now is clueless about what to do.

Dr Nitin Pawar from Oscar Multispeciality Hospital, Kandivli, said that the hospital served COVID patients throughout the pandemic and expanded as a vaccination centre. So far, they have given the first dose to around 10,000 people. "For the past three days, the centre has been shut due to shortages and distressed people have been calling with enquiries constantly. We don't know what to tell them as we have no information," Dr Pawar said.

Shivam Hospital, Charkop, too, has a similar story. The hospital's representatives said they, too, are tired of enquiries amid no answers.