Noida: For yet another day, no slots were available for walk-in vaccinations at government centres in Noida. Officials claimed that the decision was taken for better crowd management.
Moreover, residents said that even the online slots were hardly available during the day. They were unable to book slots at government centres as most of the bigger centres remained fully booked. Most of them are unaware that the online slots open around 6 pm and get booked quickly. Even for those who know, the process is a race against time.
“It’s like booking a tatkal train ticket. If you don’t book within the first 10 minutes, the slots are taken. I had to keep trying for three days before getting a slot. It is even more difficult for those who are not very good at handling the Internet or a smartphone. My maid complains that the nearby centre has not been allowing her for the past one week,” said Ramita Relan, a resident of Sector 74.
Meanwhile, officials claimed that there is no shortage of vaccines as over 20,000 doses each of Covishield and Covaxin are available in the district. More than 500 slots were opened for Friday at the bigger centres, including the District Hospital, Child PGI, GIMS, and all CHCs. However, all were available through online bookings only.
According to Dr Neeraj Tyagi, the district immunisation officer, “When we keep walk-in, the crowd becomes unmanageable for the staff at the centres. This is just a strategy to ensure that fewer people turn up at a time and social distancing is maintained. Saturday’s drive for second doses is completely walk-in.”
Local medical officers and staff argue that when a higher number of doses are available, at least some slots should be left for walk-ins who crowd at the centres anyway. However, district officials have decided otherwise. State officials said that the drive needs to be regulated in Noida.
“Noida has already vaccinated over 80% of its population but the crowd is still big. This is despite us estimating the high migratory population in the city. This is mainly because several people from East Delhi areas come for vaccination,” said state immunisation officer Dr Ajay Ghai.
He said that since adequate doses are available, people should wait for their turn and get vaccinated as soon as they get an opportunity.
Moreover, residents said that even the online slots were hardly available during the day. They were unable to book slots at government centres as most of the bigger centres remained fully booked. Most of them are unaware that the online slots open around 6 pm and get booked quickly. Even for those who know, the process is a race against time.
“It’s like booking a tatkal train ticket. If you don’t book within the first 10 minutes, the slots are taken. I had to keep trying for three days before getting a slot. It is even more difficult for those who are not very good at handling the Internet or a smartphone. My maid complains that the nearby centre has not been allowing her for the past one week,” said Ramita Relan, a resident of Sector 74.
Meanwhile, officials claimed that there is no shortage of vaccines as over 20,000 doses each of Covishield and Covaxin are available in the district. More than 500 slots were opened for Friday at the bigger centres, including the District Hospital, Child PGI, GIMS, and all CHCs. However, all were available through online bookings only.
According to Dr Neeraj Tyagi, the district immunisation officer, “When we keep walk-in, the crowd becomes unmanageable for the staff at the centres. This is just a strategy to ensure that fewer people turn up at a time and social distancing is maintained. Saturday’s drive for second doses is completely walk-in.”
Local medical officers and staff argue that when a higher number of doses are available, at least some slots should be left for walk-ins who crowd at the centres anyway. However, district officials have decided otherwise. State officials said that the drive needs to be regulated in Noida.
“Noida has already vaccinated over 80% of its population but the crowd is still big. This is despite us estimating the high migratory population in the city. This is mainly because several people from East Delhi areas come for vaccination,” said state immunisation officer Dr Ajay Ghai.
He said that since adequate doses are available, people should wait for their turn and get vaccinated as soon as they get an opportunity.
