Tepid start to booster vax drive for 18-49 group on Day 1

Mumbai: The booster round for the 18-49 age group started on a low key with only a few private hospitals offering the Covid-19 vaccine on Sunday. “We got 300 people in this age group taking the booster vaccine on the first day,” said Joy Chakraborthy, chief operating officer of Hinduja Hospital, Mahim.

There was some confusion over the vaccine’s cost, with some hospitals charging at the old rate of Rs 780 for Covishield and Rs 1,200-1,400 for Covaxin. “At Nanavati, we gave the booster shot to 30 people in the 18-49 age group at the new rate of Rs 225 plus GST and handling charges,” said a spokesperson, adding that a bigger turnout is likely on Monday.

Wockhardt Hospital near Agripada and Kokilaben Hospital in Andheri will start the drive on Monday. As the BMC doesn’t hold a drive on Sundays, it didn’t release an update on number of takers. State immunisation officer Dr Sachin Desai said the numbers would be collected on Monday. Meanwhile, hospitals such as Bombay Hospital and Surana group of hospitals have decided to wait before taking up booster vaccination drive. tnn