NEW DELHI: After an initial hiccup, which saw sub-par turnouts in the first few days at hospitals designated as Covid
vaccination centres in the city, the fear factor may now well be over.
At Mata Chanan Devi
Hospital in
Janakpuri, 900 people have got inoculated over the last two days. The hospital says it vaccinated 470 personnel on Thursday, extending the drive beyond 5pm in order to accommodate all voluntary walk-ins. On Wednesday, 430 people had been vaccinated, while 320 were vaccinated on Tuesday.
With
frontline workers now being vaccinated, including civil defence personnel,
police, teachers and corporation staff, the hospital says it has been targeting the top management to lead by example.
Ishan Sharma, nodal officer at the hospital, says while frontline staff may have had some fear initially, all that disappeared after higher rank officials were roped in. “While we are calling in people based on the application, others are being encouraged to walk in and get themselves vaccinated. The third battalion of
Delhi Police has over 2,000 personnel and we are coordinating with the top officers to help motivate others. DCP Hareesh HP was among those who were vaccinated first and this motivated people under his battalion to also get vaccinated,” said Sharma, further referring to similar examples of reserve inspector Vikram Singh Rathi, reserve inspector Satish Kumar and ACP Poornima leading by example.
“Buses of police personnel from each battalion are now coming in to get vaccinated and we try to extend the time to accommodate them all,” he added.
Constable Jagbir Yadav, who was vaccinated at the hospital on Thursday, said he wanted to secure himself as soon as possible. “We are out on duty each day and therefore, the threat of
Covid is always there. Once you are vaccinated, you feel safer mentally,” said Yadav, who decided to voluntarily walk in.