Drive-in vaccination session at three more sites in Noida

NOIDA/GHAZIABAD: The drive-in vaccination session was extended to five sites from the existing two in Noida on Saturday. Now, three of the locations are in Greater Noida and two in Noida.
Last week, when drive-in vaccinations were launched in the city, the sessions were held in DLF Mall of India in Sector 18 and Shaheed Vijay Singh Pathik Stadium in Greater Noida.
The session sites that were added on Saturday were GIP Mall in Noida, and Omaxe CP Mall and Gaur City Mall in Greater Noida.
“The objective is to ease the process of getting the vaccines,” district magistrate Suhas LY said about increasing the session sites. The target is to inoculate at least 100 recipients at each of the sites, sources said.
In Ghaziabad, the number of recipients increased from 50 on Day 1 to 90 on the second day of the drive-in vaccination session held at World Square Mall on Saturday.
Officials had on Friday said they had initiated efforts to make more people aware about the drive-in vaccinations. Many of them had blamed the rain on Friday for the poor turnout.
On Saturday, more than 200 people had turned up for the second dose of Covishield. But they had to be turned away because they had not completed the mandatory 84-day period between two doses.
Officials said the drive-in session would continue on Sunday as well.
“On Saturday, we inoculated 90 people at World Square Mall. On the first day, the number of recipients was just 50. More and more people are coming to know about the drive,” said an organiser. “Given the rising numbers, the health department has decided to allow the drive-through vaccination session on Sunday as well,” he added.
Recipients were happy to get the shots without having to fight for a slot on the CoWin app. “It was a very good experience and the whole process of vaccination was over within minutes.
The drive-in session was carried out at the mall’s parking lot in the basement,” said Ashish Kumar, who received his second dose.
But there were many who could not get their second dose because they hadn’t completed the time gap. “Since registration formalities were not required, I was under the impression that I will receive my second jab here. But I was told that I hadn’t covered the mandatory 84-day gap between two doses,” said Rohan Khanna, a resident.