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Balasore/Cuttack: Following the implementation of offline registration for the mass Covid19 vaccination programme, large number of beneficiaries, especially the young mass, were found crowding at different inoculation centres in the State, throwing covid protocols to wind.
Security forces had a tough time to control the unprecedented rush of beneficiaries who thronged to a vaccination site set up at the Balasore Zilla School and SCB Medical College in Cuttack today.
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The situation went beyond control after the beneficiaries outnumbered the stock of vaccines doses in Balasore.
Police personnel deployed at the centre also failed to control the crowd as hundreds of people tried to get them registered first, throwing covid protocols to wind.
Officials said over 1000 people had visited the centre against the stock of only 600 doses.
As tomorrow being a weekend holiday (Sunday), people made a beeline at the centre to take the jab.
In view of the heavy rush, the district health department has planned to set up two vaccination sites from Monday.
“We have plans to organise two camps on Monday on an experimental basis to control the crowd. If it is fruitful, we would go ahead further with the plan. If similar situation arises, we would have to go for online booking only for 10-12 days,” Balasore CDMO said.
We had made arrangements to inoculate 600 people, but over 1000 beneficiaries turned up at the centre which led to the heavy congregation, he added.
Similar scenes were also witnessed at thr SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. Breaking Covid protocols, people were seen crowding at the centre to get the vaccine dose. The health officials and policemen present there faced difficulties to manage the crowd.
SCB Emergency officer Dr Bhubanananda Moharana said the announcement of off-line and online registration is responsible for the crowd.
“People are more than aware that besides Covid appropriate behaviour vaccines also play a crucial role in preventing the infections. So, they rush to the inoculation centre to receive the jab. Moreover, introduction of offline registration has also led to heavy congregation. Such gathering was not witnessed earlier due to on-line mode of booking,” he said.
Anyways, steps are being taken to manage the crowd in coming days, Maharana added.
