Back to school as nearly 91K queue up for vaccines in Delhi

Classrooms that were abruptly shut because of the virus last year, opened again on Monday, but this time as “war rooms against Covid-19”

Hand sanitisers, double masks, and face shields — residents of the national capital stepped out of their homes on Monday during a lockdown to queue up for Covid-19 vaccine jabs at public schools in different parts of the city that have been converted into inoculation centres as part of the state government’s plans for the expanded drive to cover those between 18 and 44 year of age.

Schools across the city saw similar scenes on Day 1 of the expanded drive, which was rolled out two days late, owing to a shortage of doses in the city. (Photo by Amal KS/ Hindustan Times) (Amal KS/HT PHOTO)

The summer heat, which was just shy of 40°C on Monday afternoon, did not play spoilsport for people who said they’ve been waiting for a vaccine since the pandemic broke out. No sign of hesitancy here.

Classrooms that were abruptly shut because of the virus last year, opened again on Monday, but this time as “war rooms against Covid-19”, a civil defence volunteer said.

At the Kendriya Vidyalaya in Tughlaqabad, Class 1-D became an observation room where those who got the jab waited for 30 minutes to observe for adverse events.

Class 2-D was the attendance room, where one had to show their appointment slip. A few rooms away, two auxiliary nurse midwives (ANMs), sitting on class teacher’s chairs in front of an undusted blackboard with notes from a February 2020 mathematics lesson, were ready to administer the vaccines to beneficiaries.

Schools across the city saw similar scenes on Day 1 of the expanded drive, which was rolled out two days late, owing to a shortage of doses in the city.

As the Capital reels under the fourth wave of infections, the Delhi government began the mass vaccination programme in 76 schools, which had 301 inoculation centres between them.

More than 45,000 beneficiaries in this category can get jabs across the 300 centres in a day, according to the government.

Around 9.2 million people are eligible for the jabs in the 18-44 age group.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia on Monday said the Delhi government has received 450,000 vaccine doses so far for the third phase.

On Monday, about 90,803 people across age-groups across the city got doses of the vaccine.

“We waited for this moment for more than a year. I checked the Co-WIN website all day on Sunday. I lost all hopes of getting a slot, but one finally opened up around 11.30pm,” said Aditya K, who took the jab at the Tughlaqabad school.

Outside the centres, Delhi Police personnel and civil defence volunteers ensured people kept the required distance.

Some volunteers said it was unclear to many people that walk-in vaccinations weren’t allowed for the 18-44 age group.

A civil defence volunteer posted outside a school in south-east Delhi’s Molarband said, “There were many people who do not use smartphones but came with their Aadhaar cards. It was difficult to explain to them that one has to use the internet and get themselves registered. Many believe it is a walk-in vaccination site. The government must come up with an alternative method for people to get an appointment.”

But it wasn’t smooth sailing everywhere.

Officials at a school in Badarpur said they did not get time to prepare signage that would have helped people. Every school had at least three vaccination points.

The centre number is specified on the appointment slip, but these were not displayed in most schools.

A couple had to be pacified at a school in south-east Delhi’s Jaitpur after they were told they were at the wrong centre.

“The address of the centres in the Co-Win app is vague. I went to three different schools before coming here,” said Amar Singh, who was waiting outside the girls senior secondary school in Jaitpur.

At several places, the drive began well after 10am, leading to large crowds. For instance, vaccine vials arrived late at a Delhi government senior secondary school in Jangpura.

The school’s principal, Harish Chand, said 15 teachers, five IT persons, five civil defense volunteers, five ANMs and one doctor were deployed at the vaccination site.

“There is also an ambulance outside if anyone reports any adverse event,” he said.