LUCKNOW: If you are 45 years or above, you should book a slot in advance for Covid-19 vaccination or reach the centre before 11.30am, otherwise chances are that you may have to return without the jab.
A city resident, Ram Pratap (56), came to the vaccination centre at the King George’s Medical University (KGMU) for the second shot against Covid-19 at 11.30am on Monday. However, he was asked to return as no dose was left for walk-in beneficiaries. “I was puzzled when an employee asked me to book the slot in advance before coming next time. I had read in newspapers that people in the age group of 45 years and above can simply walk-in for inoculation,” Pratap told TOI.
Like Pratap, many people aged above 45 years complained about getting a similar response at several vaccination centres, though according to government guidelines, people in the 18-45 years category have to book slot on CoWin portal for vaccinations while those above 45 years can take the jab after on the spot registration.
On Monday, TOI did a reality check at six centres – SPM Civil Hospital, Silver Jubilee CHC, BRD Hospital, Jhalkari Bai Hospital, TB Hospital and KGMU. In the last four centres, people aged 45 years or above were sent back after 12pm on the grounds that the “walk-in quota” had been exhausted.
Officials at the centres said health department provides fixed quota of doses for walk-in inoculations and for those who book slots in advance. Doses for the 18-59 years age group are provided as per the slots booked, hence there is no problem.
“The walk-in facility is available for people in the age group of 45-59 years, senior citizens, healthcare staff and frontline workers. Hence, on days when turnout for walk-in inoculations is more than expected, the stock gets exhausted within a couple of hours,” an official said.
Authorities at Jhalkari Bai Hospital confirmed that only 160 doses for on the spot vaccinations were given by the health department, while those at BRD Hospital and KGMU said they were allocated 100 doses each and TB Hospital got 50 doses for walk-in inoculations.
District immunisation officer Dr MK Singh said, “Those aged 45 years and above have both the options – advance booking and walk-in. Currently, we have to fix quota because of limited stock, which will be resolved after fresh supplies in the next 3-4 days.”
