KOLKATA: Senior health department officials and senior doctors at Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) are expected to receive the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine at the Mayor’s Health Clinic near KMC board of administrators’ chairman Firhad Hakim’s Chetla residence on Saturday. But it isn’t just doctors who will be among the first lot of beneficiaries at the five KMC health clinics identified for the inoculation drive. Even group D staffers at the department have been called to clinics at Hatibaghan, Maniktala, Garia and Tangra for the jab. The centres received their share of vaccines on Friday.
On the eve of the vaccination drive, Arup Dhali, a doctor, personally oversaw the preparations at the KMC clinic at Atabagan in Garia that has been designated a vaccination site. Dhali is one of the recipients listed to get the vaccine on Saturday.
“The past 10 months have been fraught with tension and uncertainty over this virus and its unpredictable nature. We have lost colleagues, family members and friends. I am extremely excited to get the vaccine that should give me some protection as I carry on with my job. I am hoping everyone will get an opportunity to be inoculated,” he said.
Preparations were also underway at the other health clinics in Hatibagan, Maniktala, Tangra and Chetla. At the Chetla site, senior health department officials from KMC carried out last-minute checks of the vaccination room, where beneficiaries will receive the Covishield shot, and the observation room, where all those who are inoculated will have to wait. They will be monitored by a health official for any adverse reaction to the vaccine. Should anyone display any signs of discomfiture, he or she will be immediately hospitalized.
A van carrying the vaccines from the store on Ballygunge Circular Road did the rounds of all the five clinics on Friday and handed out around 100 doses to each.
“We have personally called up all the beneficiaries listed for inoculation on Saturday. We are as excited as them to start this drive against the pandemic,” said a KMC healthcare worker.