While Pune district has given boosters to 3,128 adults and Thane to 2,462, the update showed that 18 districts had not given a single booster to this age group. “The vaccine drive hasn’t taken off as expected, but it is early days yet,” said additional municipal commissioner Suresh Kakani.
Around 14 private hospitals had sought permission from the BMC to provide the booster dose. On Thursday, one more private hospital, Surana Hospital in Chembur, started offering the booster. “Corporate houses are interested in their staff getting the booster shot, and we already have many corporate bookings for May,” said Dr Prince Surana.
Bombay Hospital near New Marine Lines has decided to start offering the booster next week. “Although the demand isn’t high at the moment, we believe it will increase in the coming days,” said Dr Gautam Bhansali, who is the coordinator for private hospitals with the BMC.
The reason for the sluggish start, according to doctors, is the fact that people are no longer scared of Covid as they were a year back. “It is possible that people no longer want to pay for a vaccine,” said Kakani. The adult booster dose is only available in the private sector.
But private hospitals are not too keen on the vaccination drive after many hospitals lost crores when their old stocks expired. Many hospitals said they would wait to check if there is a demand for the booster shot before stocking up.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/mum-accounts-for-half-of-states-adult-booster-doses/articleshow/90854680.cms
