Aurangabad, April 5:
The mega vaccination mission (MVM) of Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) has started in the city today. However, due to some shortcomings in the planning, some vaccination centres got started late, while the AMC had to shift few centres at the eleventh hour as well. The AMC claimed that it had evoked a good response to the drive. A total of 4,481 citizens took the vaccine, which includes 3,863 from AMC's vaccination centres and 618 from private centres, it is learnt.
The municipal officer of health (MoH) Dr Neeta Padalkar and the deputy commissioner Aparna Thete said, " The AMC has started vaccination centres in each ward, apart from regular 43 centres (including private). On the first day, out of 115, all were functioning, except the three. Under the mission, the AMC had set a target to administer the vaccine to 3 lakh citizens in a span of two weeks. Each centre will be functioning from 10 am to 4.30 pm."
It is learnt that a team of seven personnel including a doctor, nurse, Asha worker, helper, two teachers and one member of the task force is deployed at each vaccination centre. Today, many of the staff did not report at some centres as they were unaware of their postings. Hence the AMC started arranging the manpower from 10 am and then these few centres could be started at 2 pm.
Dr Padalkar said, " the arrangement of vaccination is made as per the convenience of citizens in their respective area. The AMC as well as private hospitals are attached to these vaccination centres. If anybody complains of facing inconvenience after taking vaccine then the treatment can be done at these private hospitals immediately."
It is learnt that at few places, the AMC was discouraged from starting the vaccination centres. Hence, it has to arrange for other places to set up new centres at the 11th hour.
Participation of former corporators
The AMC to implement the vaccination drive successfully is seeking the cooperation of former corporators in each ward. Former corporators themselves took the vaccine at many centres. Many of them waited at the centres during the whole day to encourage citizens to take the vaccine in large number.