Mumbai, May 30: Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar on Sunday conducted an inspection at a hotel in suburban Andheri and found several COVID-19 vaccines stored there in a normal fridge, in violation of the laid down norms. The Covaxin doses found stored there have been sealed and an inquiry has been ordered, she said. The mayor conducted the inspection at The Lalit Hotel in Andheri East, during which some Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials accompanied her.

Talking to reporters later, Pednekar said there is a tie-up between the hotel and Criticare Hospital, a local private hospital. The hospital had procured the COVID-19 vaccine doses from the central government, which the civic and the state authorities were not aware of, she said. AAP Leaders Allege Central Govt Has Ensured Private 'Vaccination Packages' in Luxury Hotels While There Are no Free Vaccines in State Govt Run Centres.

Tweet by Kishori Pednekar: 

"The Lalit Hotel had received a proposal from the hospital that people can be vaccinated there (at the hotel). As per the proposal, those people, who do not have a family to look after following the vaccination, can stay in the hotel after inoculation...Here 500 people have been vaccinated," the mayor said. The hotel is not to be blamed, but the hospital has not adhered to the norms concerning the cold storage of vaccines, she said. BMC Organises Special COVID-19 Vaccination Drive in Mumbai for Students Travelling Abroad For Higher Studies.

"How did they get Covaxin doses when many BMC centres don't have them? I found doses, which were stored in a normal fridge. This can result in side-effects to those vaccinated. The recovered vaccines have been sealed and an inquiry will be carried out," Pedkenar added.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)