MUMBAI: Private hospitals in the city have administered double the number of Covid vaccine doses compared to public centres in August. The spurt in demand for paid vaccination was likely driven by the acute shortage at the public centres, where the drive was not held on six days so far in the month.
Data from the BMC shows private centres have administered 5.7 lakh doses between August 1 and 15. In comparison, the free vaccine centres run by the BMC and state government have administered merely 2.9 lakh doses. The public centres didn’t hold drives on August 4, 12 and 13 due to unavailability of vaccines. The remaining days were Sundays when the drive is on hold. The demand for paid vaccination had witnessed 41% drop in doses administered in July.
Public health researcher Dr Ravi Duggal said there is every possibility that the private sector was seeing a rush again because of the frequent stockouts in the public centres. Also, with local train travel linked to complete vaccination, people may have little choice but to opt for paid vaccination. “People who are spending hours travelling by buses can finally take trains, but there is the caveat of vaccination. So even if out of reach, many may stretch themselves to get vaccinated,” he said. The cost of complete vaccination is anywhere between Rs 1,500 and Rs 2,600.
Private hospitals said this increase in footfall was expected as people from the 18-44 age group, who had taken the first dose in May, are now becoming eligible for the second dose. “These are people who had taken their first shots with us,” said Joy Chakraborty, COO of P D Hinduja Hospital. At least 9 lakh people will become eligible for a second shot in Mumbai through August.
Dr Santosh Shetty, executive director of Kokilaben Hospital, said housing societies have started enquiries for the second dose. “I wouldn’t say there is a big rise in demand, but some increase is there. There is still scepticism and fear because of the scams,” he said.
Of the 80.5 lakh doses administered in Mumbai, 43% has been in the private sector. “The shortages are completely out of our control. But one way we are trying to bridge the gap is through CSR initiatives,” said a civic official. Ironically, the official added while they are struggling for supplies every few days, private orders are now fulfilled within 3-5 days of being placed on CoWin.
