Mumbai: Kandivli society smells a scam in its vaccination drive

The trio that had come for the vaccination drive at Hiranandani Heritage, Kandivli West. The members were given what they believed Covishield shots

Days after they organised a vaccination programme in their housing society, nearly 400 members of a Kandivli residential complex suspect they have been conned. The society members began doubting the exercise after their certificates showed different hospital names and the hospitals denied holding any such drive. Not even a single member showed usual side effects like fever or body ache. They have now approached the local MLA to pursue the case with the police.

"Three people had come to the society for the vaccination. We trusted them since it was arranged by the society. We were initially told that the drive is being arranged along with Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital (KDAH). But on the day of the vaccination, we were told that KDAH couldn't make it, so doctors from Shivam Hospital had come," said Gaurav Shah, 38, one of the residents of Hiranandani Heritage, Kandivli West, who got the vaccine. The trio who had come for vaccination remains incommunicado, he said.

Shah and his wife Hetal were allegedly given Covishield. "I got my certificate on June 12 which says I was administered Covishield by Nanavati Hospital staff. Their staff had come to the society on Monday and denied undertaking the vaccination drive," said Shah. Other members who got vaccinated during the May 30 drive have received certificates carrying the names of Lifeline hospital or NESCO Jumbo Centre, a BMC-run centre.

The society members have taken to Twitter to expose the so-called scam. They said they paid '1,260 per dose of what they believed was Covishield.

"After about 10 days when the certificates started rolling out, the hospitals mentioned in the certificates were anything but Kokilaben hospital - some have Lifeline hospital while most got Nanavati hospital. This made the authenticity of the vaccine questionable," tweeted Neha Alshi, a resident.

The members are particularly worried that not even one of the 390 beneficiaries experienced body ache or fever, the most common side effects of the vaccine. "We have doubts about whether we were actually given Covishield or was it just glucose or some expired/waste vaccines. How can the CoWin app be manipulated to risk lives," questioned Shah.

A spokesperson for Nanavati Max Super Speciality Hospital said, "We wish to clarify that we have not conducted any vaccination camp at the said residential complex. We have informed authorities concerned and are lodging a formal complaint regarding the same." Dr Santosh Shetty, CEO of KDAH said they were not approached by anyone from the society for the vaccination drive. "We have only conducted vaccination drives in a few societies in Andheri. Neither has we nor the society approached us for the vaccination drive that was allegedly held on May 30," said Dr Shetty. Lifeline Hospital was unreachable for comment.

Even Shiv Hospital authorities remained unreachable. Suresh Kakani, additional municipal commissioner, said, "I have asked for the vaccination certificates that have NESCO jumbo centre's name mentioned as the vaccine facilitator to understand their authenticity. I have also asked the NESCO team to investigate the matter."

Local BJP legislator Yogesh Sagar said the residents have sought his help. He said, "The police should conduct a thorough probe as such frauds pose a threat to people's lives. I will pursue the matter with the authorities."

30 May
When the society held the vaccination drive