Hyderabad: Super-spreader vaccination drive hits token bump

HYDERABAD: While the state government has identified over 7.5 lakh potential ‘superspreaders’ from the city and launched a special Covid-19 vaccination drive for them, many allege that their names are being replaced by ineligible people at the vaccination centres. Some even claim that, despite falling under one of the nine categories — as listed by the government — they are being denied tokens to take the jab.
Said P Dharmesh, a kirana shop owner from Banjara Hills: “Though I was issued a token by the GHMC staff after a physical inspection of my shop, when I turned up at the centre, I was told I couldn’t get the shot. While waiting there, I saw at least two people from my area who I know do not fall under any of the nine categories, walk in and get the vaccine for free.”
Dharmesh said he was denied the jab for not carrying his Aadhaar card. “When the civic staff visited the shop, they took all details (including Aadhaar), asked us to carry just the token to the centre. Nothing was said about Aadhaar,” he claimed.
Some also claimed that they are being denied the shot, for not carrying additional documents to the vaccination centre despite being issued tokens.
Incidentally, GHMC commissioner DS Lokesh Kumar had issued memos to two senior officials last week after some people, who were not eligible, were administered the shot. The memos, seeking an explanation from the officers, were served soon after chief secretary Somesh Kumar visited a vaccination centre in Goshamahal circle.
The government had instructed GHMC to identify people and distribute tokens to only those belonging to nine categories — vendors in rythu bazaars, fruit, vegetable and flower markets, kirana shops, LPG delivery staff, fair price shop dealers, petrol pump workers, auto and cab drivers, liquor shops and non-vegetarian markets. Yet, in some divisions, it was also found that several ineligible people got vaccinated as Sanitary Field Supervisors (SFAs) distributed the tokens without verifying IDs.
While officials admitted to a certain level of misuse happening on ground, they said they were insisting on double-checking people’s credentials only to plug this gap.