COVID-19: Hope vaccine supply starts soon, we need it, say Mumbaikars

The news of vaccine shortage drove hordes of people to vaccination centres on Thursday but by afternoon many walkin candidates were turned away by centres across the city after running out of dosesVaccination centres across the city both private and governmentrun saw huge crowds on Thursday and many stopped accepting walkin candidates in the afternoon amid the vaccine shortage People ventured to vaccination centres as walkins as a result of the news of the shortage and the war of words between the state and the centre on WednesdayPeople seen waiting for vaccination at the NESCO centreBKC Jumbo COVID CentreAt the BKC Jumbo COVID Centrersquos vaccination centre there were over 200 unregistered people waiting in the queue for vaccination Sanjay Manjrekar 52 a Dombivli resident came to Bandra Kurla Complex as he could not get a vaccine in the city where he residesManjrekar said ldquoThe civic vaccination centre in Dombivli had limited vaccines because of which I have come to BKC There was some crowd when I came but the authorities are managing it very well I finally got my first jabSatish and Manorama Kakanji returned without a vaccineSatish and Manorama Kakanji had come from Ghatkopar but since they were unregistered they had to return without the jab Satish said ldquoThere are some vaccination centres in our area too But seeing the news about a possible shortage of vaccines we decided to rush to BKC and use the walkin facility But when we reached here in the afternoon we were told that only registered people will get the shot We hope that the shortage is resolved soonrdquoNESCO Jumbo COVID Centre GoregaonAt NESCO Jumbo COVID Centrersquos vaccination centre hundreds of people were seen waiting in long queues However decent arrangements prevented the situation from becoming chaotic Frontline workers senior citizens registered recipients and walkin recipients were all in separate queuesThe centre at Nanavati hospital stopped walkin vaccinations in the afternoon PicsSameer MarkandeSome people had come to NESCO after being turned away by private centres that closed walkin facilities Madhumati Satam 78 and Sujit Satam 51 residents of Charkop had gone to Shivam Hospital in Charkop Kandivli but were turned awaySujit said ldquoWe had read about the issue of shortage so we came to the NESCO centre Many people had come to take the vaccine but the staff was helpful They provided my mother with a wheelchair and vaccinated us on priorityrdquoVineet ShahAshok Parmar 54 a Goregaon resident had to wait for nearly two hours He said ldquoI came with my wife here because NESCO is one of the biggest facilities I am happy that they let us in although we are unregistered I hope the shortage issue is resolved at the earliestrdquoVineet Shah 45 a Malad resident said ldquoThe NESCO centre closed walkin vaccination at 4 pm Thank god I came on time I am sure I will get the vaccinerdquoNanavati hospitalNanavati hospitalrsquos vaccination centre in Vile Parle on Thursday afternoon had a long queue at the gate where registration happens Sources said only registered recipients were let in as the walkin facility was closed by afternoonGeorge Fernandes who took the vaccine said ldquoI am glad that my children registered my name for the vaccination and I was able to get a dose today But I had to wait for five hours I am happy with the arrangementCooper hospitalAt Andherirsquos Cooper hospital many registered recipients were seen in the waiting area and no walkins were allowed Those who came as walkins were unhappy over being unable to get the vaccine and about their time having been wasted Among these were three central government employee tooA staffer at the vaccination centre who did not wish to be named said ldquoSince yesterday the state and the central government have been debating over the shortage of vaccines Many people have turned up today because of this but were not able to get registered through the walkin facility We expect the shortage to be sorted soonrdquoCityrsquos biggest railway hospital stops driveOne of the cityrsquos biggest railway hospitals Jagjivan Ram Hospital at Mumbai Central has started running out of vaccinesldquoThose who had taken prior appointments were sent a text message on Wednesday that their confirmed appointments had been cancelled as the BMC had failed to update on the supply to the hospital and that no vaccine is availablerdquo a senior official saidOn Central Railway though supplies had not run out completely on Thursday the stocks ran lowOn Central Railwayrsquos Mumbai division there are about 32500 employees and over 5000 have been vaccinated with 350 being vaccinated daily The target is to vaccinate over 500 every day at units in Byculla Kalyan and Thane and open more centres at Igatpuri Panvel and Parel Overall 25 per cent of the total staff has been vaccinated and over 60 per cent is in the eligible 45 years categoryOn the Western Railway over 13163 employees have been vaccinated with about 2514 vaccinated at Jagjivan Ram Hospital and 1136 being in Mumbai divisionBy Rajendra B Aklekar