Companies In Pune Start On-Site Vaccinations For Employees; Will Housing Societies Too Start Vaccinations?

After a week’s delay, the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation has resumed vaccinations for those over 45 years old. The vaccine programme for people aged 18 to 44 is extended from three to eight centres.

Vaccination Programme Scheduled For The Second Dose

Dr Varsha Dange, in charge of PCMC’s vaccination programme, said “We have received 5,000 doses of vaccine. The same will be given to the citizens on Friday,” 

“It is not for those who are getting their first dose,” she clarified.

Dr Dange said they were not sure whether they would be carrying out the drive tomorrow as well. “It all depends on the vaccine stock that we get,” she said.

Dr Dange said from May 1, they were giving the vaccine to those between the ages of 18-44 at three centres. “Now, the doses will be given at eight centres,” she said.

Residential Societies To Conduct Vaccination Camps?

Dr Dange said the PCMC has not yet permitted residential societies to conduct vaccination camps. “We have not yet received guidelines for carrying out vaccinations in residential societies,” she said.

Former Mayor Mangala Kadam, an NCP leader, in a letter to the PCMC commissioner, said, “Overcrowding is taking place at all vaccination centres being run by PCMC. People are queuing up since early morning. No social distancing is being followed. If people are informed in advance, then overcrowding will not take place,” she said.

Appealing to citizens not to crowd the vaccination centres, the PCMC administration said, “Only a limited number of beneficiaries will be given the doses. Therefore, a large number of citizens should not gather at the vaccination centres.”

Kadam said if residential societies are permitted to hold vaccination camps, then the overcrowding at PCMC-run centres will ease and it will help in containing the spread of the virus.

Demanding that a separate helpline be set up for vaccinations, Kadam said, “If a citizen calls up PCMC officials, they do not respond. They do not even bother to return the calls. Therefore, a separate helpline must be set up. It will help citizen to know whether vaccination will take place or whether adequate vaccines are available.”

The Vaccinations Will Be Held At The Following Centres:

Savitribai Phule, school, Bhosari, Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj school, Dighi, Sant Dnyaneshwar Krida School, Indirayaninagar, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru school, Charholi, Primary school, Moshi.

On-site Vaccination 

Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has also begun on-site (workplace) vaccination to increase Coronavirus disease (COVID19) vaccination. The vaccine doses were given to 300 Times Group employees on Wednesday.

Many large corporations also have begun to register for on-site COVID vaccination, according to PMC officials. Large cooperative housing societies could be permitted shortly.

On-site vaccination has begun in the region, according to PMC Additional Commissioner Rubal Agarwal, with the first programme organised for Times Group employees. Such drives will be carried out in the future, depending on vaccine availability.