NMC starts vax of vulnerable groups, begins with pregnant women

Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Friday started Covid-19 vaccination of vulnerable groups, beginning with pregnant women, as part of preparations for the third wave. To encourage inoculation and contain spread, the civic body is likely to explore possibility of giving some preference to fully vaccinated people in operating essential, non-essential shops, restaurants etc.
NMC started a vaccination centre in the name of Pachpaoli ANC Centre at its Pachpaoli Women’s Hospital on Friday. Municipal commissioner Radhakrishnan B told TOI, “This centre will be specially for vaccination of pregnant women. Later, lactating women will be added to the centre.”
Only three pregnant women were brought to the centre and vaccinated on the first day.
NMC chief medical officer Dr Sanjay Chilkar said, “We have a list of over 11,000 pregnant women under the government scheme. We will send teams aware about the importance and benefits of vaccination to these pregnant women. These teams will bring pregnant women to the centre and ensure their vaccination. Similarly, the list of pregnant women registered or taking treatment at government and private hospitals will be collected and encouraged to get vaccinated.”
Dr Chilkar said special preference is being given to pregnant and lactating women as they are vulnerable to Covid-19. “Also, the government has directed measures to protect children. This drive will also ensure safety of children,” he said.
NMC will open similar special vaccination centres for pregnant and lactating women at Daga Maternity Hospital and IGGMCH too. Dr Chilkar added, “More vulnerable people like co-morbid and 45+ age group who are yet to be vaccinated will be identified in phased manner and encouraged to get vaccinated.”
The Zilla Parishad (ZP) had started identifying mothers of 0-13-year-old children and started their vaccination.
Radhakrishnan added special vaccination drive will be conducted for the third gender from Monday onwards. “We have received a request from some NGOs in this regard. Representatives of the NGOs said there is some hesitancy related to vaccination in third gender people. Therefore, we will facilitate special centres for them,” he said.
A day ago, the government had announced relaxation in producing RT-PCR negative report to fully vaccinated people while entering the state from other states or foreign countries.
Radhakrishnan said, “We are exploring the possibility of giving special preference to fully vaccinated people in running commercial activities during restrictions. It will ensure vaccination of people engaged in commercial activities, who could be superspreaders in case they contract the disease, as they meet people in large numbers on daily basis.”
Radhakrishnan also said, “We will request some industries and corporates to come forward and sponsor vaccination for their staffers and family members. We are not getting sufficient doses on daily basis. Some people cannot afford private centres. Such people can be covered if sponsored by their establishments.”
Affected a day ago due to lack of Covishield doses, NMC resumed inoculation at Covishield centres on Friday. Vaccination continued in Covaxin centres. Some 33,235 people took the jab at NMC centres, while 1,266 were vaccinated in 13 private centres. Thus, 34,501 took the jab in the city on Friday.
The ZP completed record vaccination of 27,353 in 182 centres in rural parts of the district on Friday. Previous highest in a day was 26,901 on July 7. Total vaccination in the district was 61,854 on Friday.
Orange City Hospital and Research Institute (OCHRI) became the first private centre to get doses of Covishield by placing an order in Co-Win application. Earlier, private hospitals used to place order directly with manufacturers and get the doses.
Director of OCHRI Dr Anup Marar said, “Government started option of placing order to manufacturer or state in Co-Win application. Accordingly, we paid and placed order for 6,000 doses on Monday and received it directly from manufacturer on Friday. Minimum order is 6,000 doses if have to place order directly with manufacturers.”