Ghaziabad sees crowds on Day 2, vax drive smooth in Noida

NOIDA/GHAZIABAD: While chaos and crowds marked the second day of inoculation in the 18-44 years category in Ghaziabad, the process went off smoothly in neighbouring Gautam Budh Nagar.
In Ghaziabad, like Monday, most vaccine centres saw huge queues on Tuesday with people waiting for hours to get jabs. The centres had more policemen and barricades and markers were used for maintaining Covid protocols.
Currently, vaccines are being administered at 16 centres across the district and district immunisation officer Dr Vishram Singh said the department is considering increasing the number.
In Gautam Budh Nagar, the drive went off without much disruption and dedicated centres were set up in Noida and Greater Noida for those over 45 years.
Most people in the 18-44 years category said they got vaccines within 20-25 minutes. Dheeraj Pathak, who got the jab at the district hospital in Noida’s Sector 30, said: “It took me one hour to get the vaccine and stay for the observation period of 30 minutes.”
By Tuesday evening, Ghaziabad had inoculated 2,635 people in the 18-44 years category, registering a coverage of about 85%. It is 10% more than the coverage recorded on Monday.
Along with this, 3,958 people in 45-59 years category and 2,420 above 60 years were also inoculated at 39 centres. In all, 9,013 shots were administered. In Gautam Budh Nagar, 6,509 people were inoculated on Tuesday. Among them, 2,431 people were in the 18-44 years category and 1,782 people were above 60 years.
Ghaziabad district health department said it got 21,000 vaccines for 45 + category on Monday and the stock will last for three- four days for everyone above 18 years.
In Noida, a few people were turned away for not having the required documents.
While 16 session sites were set up in Noida and Greater Noida to cater to the 18-44 years group, 12 sites were set up to inoculate those above 45 years.