While the drive for the second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine has started, a host of reasons has kept the response low. This includes technical glitches and health workers preferring to go as per their convenience rather than on exactly the 28th day from the first dose. On the other hand, although the BMC has issued an advisory for its own staff, the over one lakh frontline workers, regarding the vaccination, the anxiety and side effects induced by the vaccine are things they have to deal with alone. This, too, has become a deterrent. So far, only 676 out of 6,864 health workers have received the second dose on the first three days of the drive. 

Though the technical issues in the CoWIN app were the main hurdles, authorities also have to deal with issues related to more centres, recipients’ anxiety and casual leaves after vaccination.  “There was chaos initially which hasn’t resolved yet. So I will wait for a few more days. Why waste time and return without a vaccine if I can go next week?” said a nurse from a civic-run hospital on the condition of anonymity.