Mumbai News

Day 2 of vaccination: Lower turnout in Maharashtra, Mumbai ‘manages’ 50% – Times of India

MUMBAI: The second day of Covid-19 vaccination in the state on Tuesday saw a lower turnout of healthcare workers opting for the shot, while Mumbai managed to log the same attendance (50%) as the first day on Saturday.
This happened despite the health authorities introducing friendly measures such as “walk-in appointments” (in Mumbai) and keeping booths open till 7pm. Moreover, glitches in the Co-WIN software resulted in fewer healthcare workers being called for the shots; at KEM Hospital, Parel, the daily target was reduced to 300 as against 500.

The statewide figure dropped from 64% on Day 1 to 52% on Tuesday, with 14,883 healthcare workers (out of 28,500) taking the shot. State health services head, Dr Archana Patil, however, refused to equate the low turnout with vaccine hesitancy. “One cannot deduce hesitancy based on the turnouts of just two days,” she said. Around 7.86 lakh healthcare workers, including 1.3 lakh in Mumbai, are scheduled to get vaccinated in the first phase.
Day 2: Some turn up at centres but refuse to take the vaccine
Out of a total of 28,500 beneficiaries who were scheduled to be vaccinated across the state on Tuesday, only 14,883 or 52% took the shot. The state-wide figure was 64% on Day 1 of the vaccination drive last Saturday.
In Mumbai, only 1,597 out of the 3,200 healthcare workers who were shortlisted for Day 2 got vaccinated. On Saturday, 1,926 out of the targeted 4,000 potential recipients got vaccinated in Mumbai. The city even saw seven refusals on Tuesday.
BMC executive health officer Dr Mangala Gomare said a new provision in the Co-WIN application allowed centres to vaccinate beneficiaries whose names are already registered. Using this provision, many who didn’t have a prior appointment for Tuesday but wanted to get vaccinated and came to the centres, could take the vaccine. “Over 200 vaccinations were done on Tuesday using this option,” she said.
The BMC health authorities also called more people than the scheduled number to ensure that even if a few failed to turn up, the daily target of 4,000 could be met. The BMC had appealed to the state government on Monday to allow walk-in appointments and call more than the scheduled numbers. The state government accepted the request, and the Co-WIN app now allows for recipients to be adjusted under a category called ‘add beneficiary’.
A senior BMC officer said, “We have a database of 1.3 lakh health workers who are scheduled to get vaccinated. Daily 4,000 people are targeted for vaccination, but some fail to make it due to prior commitments, so we decided to fill that space by allowing walk-in vaccination and calling health worker before their schedule.”
The ward medical officers have a list of health workers living in the area under their jurisdiction, so whenever there is a low turnout, the ward-level health officials can call up people from the list. “The officers will contact private or government hospitals nearby and ask for healthcare workers to be sent for vaccination before their schedule,” said a BMC official.
Meanwhile, several centres on Tuesday also saw refusals from healthcare workers after they arrived at the facilities. At BYL Nair Hospital in Mumbai, there were around six to seven refusals. Two refusals were recorded at Babasaheb Ambedkar Hospital in Kandivli. A doctor said the two came to the centre and even went through the registration process, but developed some apprehension and left without taking the vaccine. Nair hospital dean Dr Ramesh Bharmal said efforts were made to counsel those who refused. “Vaccination is voluntary. We can only counsel,” he said.
Across the state, vaccine was given at 274 centres. “There were no serious adverse effects, and vaccination will continue tomorrow (Wednesday),” said state health secretary (principal) Dr Pradeep Vyas. Dr Patil said confidence-building measures need to be put in place. “Also, as Co-WIN gets more streamlined, we are expecting the numbers to increase,” she said.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/some-refuse-to-take-vax-at-centres-on-day-2/articleshow/80355087.cms