Mumbai to Get at Least Seven More Drive-in Covid Vaccination Centres to Reduce Overcrowding

In the wake of massive crowding witnessed outside centres to receive jabs, seven drive-in vaccination centres will come up in Mumbai within 24 hours. Mumbai Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal, who issued the order on Thursday, asked officials to set up the centres in each of the seven administrative regions of the city, a civic official said. The first drive-in centre where people can get a shot of coronavirus vaccine without getting out of their vehicles started in the city on Tuesday in Dadar area.

Chahal directed deputy municipal commissioners to set up at least one such centre in their respective regions within 24 hours, the official said. Those above 60 years can get vaccinated at drive-in centres only by appointment, and they shall not drive themselves but will be accompanied by an attendant or a driver, the municipal commissioner said in an order.

The decision was taken after Chahal held a meeting with Minister Aaditya Thackeray, who is also Guardian Minister of Mumbai suburban district. "With regard to the crowding at some of the Vaccination centres and the opening up of more "drive in" vaccination centres across the city, @mybmc Commissioner Chahal ji and I had a discussion this morning and new guidelines would be released soon," Thackeray tweeted.

The commissioner said in the order that drive-in centres should be set up in big open grounds like Andheri Sports Club ground, Cooperage, Shivaji Stadium, Oval Maidan and MIG Ground. As per the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, 25,20,634 persons have received coronavirus vaccine jabs, including 5,40,000 who have received both doses, in the city as of Wednesday evening.

Those who want a vaccine dose must register themselves on the Co-WIN portal and book a slot at a vaccination centre of their choice before reaching there, civic officials said. The fresh order came in the wake of chaotic scenes outside BKC inoculation centre on Wednesday due to overcrowding.

"Since May 1, after launch of above 18 years vaccination programme, all the CVCs are getting overcrowded and it becomes difficult to maintain social distancing and Covid appropriate behaviour," the order said. Those above 45 and due for a second dose of Covaxin in particular will be exempted from advance booking, but they will have to produce the provisional certificate — digital or hard copy — of having taken the first dose.

Healthcare workers and frontline workers who want to take a first or second dose of both Covaxin and Covishield too need not register in advance.

(With PTI inputs)

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