Bengaluru: BBMP aims to extend its COVID-19 vaccination campaign to include large offices & apartments

In partnership with private hospitals, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will soon set up COVID-19 vaccination sites at large corporate offices and apartment complexes. Rakesh Singh, the newly named BBMP Administrator, and a senior IAS officer informed TNM that they had approached the Union government about it and we’re waiting for their approval. “Higher officials and the Union government are in discussions. We have yet to obtain an order to begin the procedure, but the BBMP intends to open more vaccination sites to speed up the process,” he said.

After a meeting between the BBMP and some residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) in Bengaluru on April 1, the decision to approach the Union government was made. Many senior citizens had expressed concerns about contracting the disease from overcrowded hospital facilities, prompting the RWAs to approach officials and request that vaccination centers be established in their region. Officials from the BBMP indicated at the meeting that RWAs would be required to provide a room inside their premises to set up the registration desk and track post-administration observation. This could be accomplished with the help of medical facilities that have a track record of delivering the vaccine.

The Union government had previously turned down the Karnataka government’s request to expand the vaccination program to apartment complexes. This is the second time they’ve made the same appeal to the Union government. The decision to extend the vaccination campaign beyond hospital settings comes at a time when health officials are advising the public to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

According to State Health Minister Dr. K Sudhakar’s announcement on March 25, the BBMP was expected to inoculate up to 80,000 people per day. However, only about 35,000 people from all three phases were inoculated in Bengaluru last week. Since the nationwide vaccination drive began on January 16, the BBMP has vaccinated a total of 8 lakh people until April 4. To speed up the vaccination process in Bengaluru, the city government is already attempting to enlist the help of more private hospitals that are registered under any government healthcare scheme, like Ayushman Bharat.