Vaccine fiasco leaves students fuming in Mumbai

Only 50 doses available at special drive for students going abroad

Hundreds of students, who thronged the HBT Medical College and Dr. RN Cooper Municipal General Hospital at Juhu on Monday after Cabinet minister Aaditya Thackeray tweeted that free walk-in vaccinations would be available for students going abroad, returned disappointed as only 50 doses were available. On May 28, Mr Thackeray had tweeted, “For students who have received confirmation of admission in universities abroad & require vaccines for the same, the BMC has arranged free walk-in vaccination this coming Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (31st May, 1st, 2nd June) at 3 centres — Rajawadi, Cooper & Kasturba. The students need to carry I-20 or DS-160 form/ verified confirmation letter to concerned foreign universities, along with personal id documents. This admission and vaccine affecting careers, we are duty bound to vaccinate them in the required time. I will also be speaking to other municipal corporations across Maharashtra to implement the same for students in and around those cities with confirmation letters for universities abroad, to implement the same. The numbers are small, but their career opportunities can’t be missed.” However, several students waited for long hours only to be turned away by the hospitals.