BMC Commissioner Says Inadequate Supply Is Impacting Vaccinations

Commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Iqbal Singh Chahal has said that coronavirus vaccinations are slowing down to a certain degree in Mumbai due to the slow rollout by the Centre. 

Chahal added that the civic body has requested an adequate supply of vaccines to oversee up to 1 lakh inoculations a day while also asking to ease relaxations so as to vaccinate people at their homes. 

This comes as vaccination centres in Navi Mumbai, Panvel, Pune, and Thane had reported a shortage of doses, while Mumbai is now experiencing some issues with its stock as well. Responding to TOI’s question on whether vaccine availability is proving to be a hindrance, Chahal said, “Yes, to a certain extent, especially supply of Covishield.”

He also said that the city’s goal of touching the 1 lakh vaccinations per day mark can be fulfilled if the Central Government provides the requisite permissions to around 26 hospitals that are waiting to vaccinate citizens. Chahal further said that these institutions can vaccinate up to 25,000 people a day. 

As per some sources, Mumbai currently has enough doses to last up to five days, while mentioning that ramping up vaccinations could be a hurdle if supply isn’t streamlined by this week. 

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In a separate development, vaccination centres across the state that weren’t on the list to receive Covaxin are supposedly receiving more of this vaccine. Covaxin is produced by Bharat Biotech. 

As per a private hospital head quoted by TOI, they have been asked to conserve Covishield doses for people coming in for their second doses. This comes as only JJ Hospital and five civic-run centres were on the list to receive Covaxin. 

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Some private vaccination centres remained open on Sunday though all civic-run centres were shut. These civic centres account for up to 80 per cent of the vaccinations conducted in the city.

A civic official said that private hospitals are yet to pick up the pace of vaccinations. While public centres are capable of administering 2,000 to 4,000 doses per day, privately run centres are only seeing around 300 to 400 vaccinations per day, the official added.

Also read - Navi Mumbai Reports Highest COVID-19 Cases Since Last Year