Drive-in COVID vaccination centre launched in Bhubaneswar; slot booking starts today

Bhubaneswar: Emulating the Mumbai model, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) has launched the first drive-in COVID-19 vaccination centre in the city for people aged above 45 years.

The center is located at the parking lot of Esplanade shopping mall near Rasulgarh Square here.

Informing this, the BMC said those who have taken the first jab at private hospitals or Government facilities can drive-in for the second dose of the vaccine at Esplanade centre. They are advised to book their slots for the immunization at the centre.

Slot booking will start at 5 PM today. Total 400 slots are available for May 8 (tomorrow). From May 10 to 15, 500 slots will be available per day, said the BMC.

“The intending citizens for the facility will have to drive in vehicle into the Esplanade Mall parking lot entry as per the slot booked by them. Wait for your turn inside the vehicle at the parking lot. The vaccination will be done at the exit point. After the inoculation, you can drive out and wait outside teh parking lot for 30 minutes for observation,” the civic body mentioned.

Without slot booking, no vehicle will be allowed inside the parking lot for the vaccination, the BMC cautioned.