50 applications for vax for bedridden rejected by PMC; docus not in order

PUNE Of 65 applications sent in by citizens who are bed- ridden and want to get a Covid-19 vaccine, 50 have been rejected by the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) health department

PUNE Of 65 applications sent in by citizens who are bed- ridden and want to get a Covid-19 vaccine, 50 have been rejected by the Pune Municipal Corporation’s (PMC) health department. Fifteen applications are still under scrutiny.

HT Image

This is because applicants did not provide a mandatory “fit for vaccination” certificate and/or a medical certificate declaring them as bed-ridden.

The PMC had put out a special email ID inviting beneficiaries unable to go to vaccination centres due to their physical condition, to avail of the “vaccine on wheels” initiative; where in a mobile vaccine unit would drive to the home of the beneficiary to ensure the vaccination happened.

Dr Surykant Deokar, PMC’s immunisation officer said, “Two weeks ago we rolled out this initiative, wherein citizens were to send their requests for immunisation on via email. We received 65 applications, of which 50 have been rejected. These applications lack the mandatory medical certificate issued by a doctor stating that the patient has been bed ridden due to some physical condition and is not able to go to the nearby Covid-19 vaccination centre. Also that the beneficiary is fit enough to receive the Covid immunisation. Some of the applications also lacked consent forms, mandatory to be submitted by family of bedridden citizens.

All bed-ridden beneficiaries get only Covaxin as per central government guidelines, added Deokar.

Dr Deokar said, “We are waiting to get enough applications so that we can plan the drive accordingly. If we have 15 beneficiaries as of now and if one of them lives in Hadapsar and the other on Sinhgad road or Baner, then it would take at least one hour to reach both places. In addition we would have to keep a watch on the beneficiary for at least for 20 minutes post vaccination. These are practical concerns and so we have to plan this special drive carefully.”

City continues to face shortage of Covishield and Covaxin

On Thursday, too, the civic body will keep its Covid-19 vaccination centres shut for a second day in a row due to a shortage of vaccines. On Wednesday centres were shut. Dr Deokar said that if the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) gets new stock on Thursday, then there would be a vaccination drive on Friday.

Meanwhile, at a state-level video conference on Wednesday, the health department directed health officials at the taluka and corporation level to prioritise the second dose for beneficiaries. Also, a refund for private vaccination centres who have not received their vaccine stock despite payment was discussed.

Vaccines for bedridden

Applicants can send their application along with mandatory documents to bedriddenvaccination.pune@gmail.com along with the beneficiary’s name, address, contact number, reasons for being bedridden, a doctor’s certificate and a consent letter from a family member.