Vaccination drive at Kandivli centre, where 500 beneficiaries were to receive shot, goes smoothly; medical staff takes pictures to celebrate ‘momentous day’
Medical staff that received the vaccine shot at Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Municipal Hospital, Kandivli, seen taking selfies on Saturday. Pic/Satej Shinde
A list of 500 beneficiaries was made ready at Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Municipal Hospital, Kandivli, where five vaccination rooms were created to vaccinate health staff on Saturday.
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The health workers, as well as the beneficiaries at the hospital, were enthusiastic. Medical superintendent Dr Pratibha Patil said, “A total of 116 staff nurses have been trained for the vaccination drive. We are hopeful that all the 500 beneficiaries will be vaccinated.” Once vaccinated, the beneficiaries were kept under observation for 30 minutes.
Dr Priyanka Singh, who was deployed at the screening desk, said, “Though we have a list of 500 beneficiaries, we are screening each one of them. Pregnant women, breastfeeding moms, or those who tested COVID-19 positive a fortnight ago, are being singled out.”
The vaccination drive at the hospital began at 11.30 am on Saturday. Medical Officer of Health, R-North ward Dr Avinash Bhaskar Vaydande was the first beneficiary to be vaccinated at the hospital. Dr Vaydande said, “I have not faced any side-effects from taking the vaccine, yet. People should not panic. Everyone should cooperate with the government.” Till 2 pm, 250 beneficiaries had been vaccinated and one pregnant woman was turned away. The medical superintendent Dr Patil said four ICU beds have been kept ready to meet any emergency post vaccination.
Staff members of SK Patil Hospital, who were vaccinated, were seen getting group photos clicked at the observation area. A few of them were also seen taking selfies, while getting vaccinated. “It is a special moment and people want to capture it on their cellphone. This was a much awaited day for everyone. We have worked tirelessly, so we want to keep a visual record of this day,” said Dr Swapnil Ghongade, medical officer of SK Patil Hospital.
An assistant matron Chaitraly Pimpale said, “The vaccine will protect us 70 per cent, but we need to adhere to COVID-19 rules like wearing facemask, washing our hands and maintain social distancing to be fully protected.” Rajwant Thombare, a staff nurse at Kranti Jyoti Savitribai Phule Hospital, who was infected with the virus during the early days of pandemic, was elated to get the shot.
Her lab servant Nitin Dhanvi and ward boy Kamlakar Rajaram Gosavi, had also tested COVID-19 positive. “I was scared when I got infected. After taking the vaccine, I guess I won’t have to worry anymore,” Dhanvi said.
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