Crowds swell, over 5,000 get first dose on Thursday

Pune: The addition of more civic-run and private vaccine sites led to a massive increase in Covid jabs on Thursday across the Pune Metropolitan Region (PMR).
The PMC had 46 operational sites and the PCMC ran a total of nine centres. In the PMC areas, 2,753 senior citizens and 292 people above 45 with underlying conditions turned up on Thursday — almost double the numbers from the day before.
The PCMC sites gave out first jabs to 1,114 elderly. And in Pune rural, 1,177 seniors, along with 100 between 45 and 59, received their first shots.
Problems, however, continued to occur at several sites. Issues included long lines, mismanaged token systems and lack of slots. The rush at prominent hospitals is also increasing. Both Sutar and Kamala Nehru hospitals had huge turnouts on Thursday.
“More vaccinators are now being roped in at the sites. But the number of beneficiaries is so high that fulfilment remains a major concern,” said Anjali Tilekar, medical officer of the Kothrud ward office.
A senior PMC official said, “Big crowds are gathering at major hospitals, because people are not opting for the smaller units. This is leading to heated arguments at sites. Overcrowding can be reduced by promoting these smaller centres.”
The PMC has started vaccinations in two shifts at Kamala Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi and Naidu hospitals — from 8am to 3pm, and 3pm to 10 pm. Administrators said the extended timings have received a good response.
PCMC commissioner Rajesh Patil five more private hospitals will be added to list of sites by Friday.
Sanjay Deshmukh, deputy director (health), Pune circle, said the vaccine drive in the region is being closely monitored. He said, “We will be sending the Centre a fresh proposal for vaccinations at hospitals with 50 to 150 beds, just like how we requested shots at hospitals with 200-bed capacity. If all goes well, we will have 60 more sites in Pune district by March 8.”