Mumbai: Private sector jabbed 80,000, public centres shut

A medic prepares to vaccinate a beneficiary, at a vaccination drive in Dharavi, on July 10. Pic/Suresh Karkera

Of the 401 Covid-19 vaccination centres in the city, only 98 are run by the private sector but they managed to vaccinate more people than the public facilities in the first 10 days of this month. While private centres vaccinated 3,14,371 beneficiaries from July 1-10, public centres could administer only 2,58,923 doses because of frequent disruption in supply.

On Friday and Saturday, when the public centres were closed due to unavailability of vaccines, private facilities vaccinated 79,712 people in the city. A total of 46,194 doses were given to people aged between 18 years and 44 years, 26,906 to those in the 45-59 years age group and 6,557 to senior citizens.

"There were days when public centres administered over 60,000 doses in a day. The capacity can be increased with double sessions. But, currently, we are able to vaccinate as and when the stock is replenished, and the BMC does not have any control over it," a civic official said on condition of anonymity.

Also read: Mumbai: No vaccine drive without BMC nod

When paid vaccination started in May, private centres outnumbered the public centres - run by civic as well as the state government - as the latter were opened in limited numbers due to shortage of vaccines. But the situation reversed from June 21, when the Centre announced free vaccination for all adults. Public centres in the city administered more than 8 lakh doses within the next 10 days, i.e. till June 30. Whereas, private centres could manage to vaccinate only 4.18 lakh people. However, erratic supply of vaccines has kept the public centres' vaccination figure low this month, which saw suspension of inoculation drive on three days and limited session on two days.

Public centres will be able to open on Monday, from 9 am to 5 pm, and will start vaccinating pregnant women as well. However, it only has 85,000 doses, received on Saturday, as of now.

98
No. of vaccination centres run by private sector

303
No. of vax centres run by BMC, state govt