71 health staffers refuse to get the shots in district

Pune: A total of 71 frontline health workers in the district refused to get the shots on the first day of the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive, while another 50 from Nashik, Ahmednagar and Jalgaon refused vaccination.
The overall number of refusals to vaccination in Pune, Nashik, Aurangabad and Kolhapur was far less in terms of percentage of the total health workers enrolled for vaccination on day-one.The fear surrounding the Covaxin jab was expected to trigger refusals in large numbers, but the Covaxin sites in Pune and Aurangabad reported no such refusals.
State immunisation officer Dr DN Patil told TOI, “What I have assessed is that there was none who came to the centre and refused. We can call these as delays, not refusals as their names are there and they can come for the next sessions. Many others could not make it to the vaccination centres due to other reasons like being out of station or were not feeling well. This will change and they can always be a part of the second session.”
Of the 71 people who refused to get the shots in Pune district, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) area accounted for 32 people — 4% of the total 800 targeted health workers for vaccination on the first day. The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) limits accounted for 24 people — 3% of the total 800 targeted. Another 15 refusals were reported from rural Pune areas, where the authorities had targeted 1,500 vaccinations.
The BJ Medical College and Sassoon Hospital reported 11 refusals, followed by seven at the Rajiv Gandhi hospital in Yerawada, five at the Noble Hospital in Hadapsar, four at Sutar Hospital in Kothrud, three at Ruby Hall Clinic and two at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital — all in Pune city.
Ashish Bharati, the head of the PMC’s health department, said, “Instructions came to start the vaccination only after the online registration system started. Some people waited and then left without vaccination. Some did not make it to the centres out of fear.”
In Pimpri Chinchwad, the Talera and the New Bhosari hospitals reported nine and and seven refusals, respectively, while the Akurdi hospital reported another six refusals and the YCM hospital reported two refusals.
In rural Pune, Indapur sub-district hospital (SDH) reported six refusals. The Junnar SDH and the Kanhe Phata and the Shikrapur rural hospitals reported three each.
“Most of them who refused the shots were anxious and scared. They told us that they would first consult their family members and then participate in the drive,” said Ayush Prasad, the Zilla Parishad chief executive officer Ayush Prasad.
(With inputs from Nashik, Kolhapur & Aurnagabad)