KOLKATA: Private hospitals had to fall back on their own employees to meet their vaccination target on Friday even as 25%-35% of those on the Co-Win list failed to turn up. Four out of six hospitals that conducted vaccinations had to substitute the absentees with their own healthworkers. Several are planning to step up counselling to convince recipients.
At AMRI Hospitals — that flagged off inoculation at its Salt Lake unit on Friday — 241 recipients received the shot at its two centres. While the Dhakuria unit vaccinated 110, the Salt Lake centre vaccinated 131 healthworkers. The latter had a target of 200 recipients.
Both, however, had a 20%-25% deficit which had to be made up by AMRI employees. “Many of the Co-Win list recipients didn’t turn up. We had kept our own list ready and our staff stepped in to maintain the target,” said AMRI CEO Rupak Barua. He added that many still remained unsure about the vaccine and have been reluctant to take the jab. “We are asking everyone to spread the word that vaccine is effective and harmless,” said Barua. As per government listings, AMRI Dhakuria will continue to receive vials for 100 healthcare workers every day, while AMRI Salt Lake will receive vials for 200 vaccinations since it is registered as a vaccination centre under North 24 Parganas.
At RN Tagore International Institute of Cardiac Sciences (RTIICS), around 30% of the 109 recipients who got the shot on Friday were substitutes. “Our healthworkers had to join to make sure that our quota of vials was used. Many turned up late and several others remained absent. With more and more getting safely vaccinated, the confidence should grow,” said RTIICS zonal director R Venkatesh.
Peerless Hospital reached the 100-mark for the first time on Friday. It managed to inoculate 109, though almost 60% of those listed failed to turn up. Peerless, too, filled the gap with own staff. “We waited till 3pm for the listed recipients but merely 64 had turned up. Our own list of healthworkers was ready and we started inoculating them. We plan to interact more with those on Co-WIN list and ask them to inspire their colleagues,” said Peerless Hospital CEO Sudipta Mitra.
Woodlands Hospital, which joined the drive on Friday as the sixth private hospital, vaccinated 74 recipients. While the hospital didn’t face an absenteeism issue, it failed to inoculate more as it ran out of time. “We started with one desk and each vaccination procedure took 6-7 minutes with consenting and counselling process. So, we completed 74 persons between 10am and 5pm and our plan is to set up two desks from next day and clock the target of 100. The process was uneventful with zero AEFIs,” said CEO Rupali Basu.