In an initiative to speed up the COVID vaccination drive, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has shortlisted 13 private hospitals for the COVID-19 vaccination drive for the general public in Mumbai.

The civic body will issue a list of the shortlisted hospitals soon, it said.

BMC`s additional municipal commissioner Suresh Kakani said, “We have shortlisted 13 private hospitals for now which will be allowed to undertake vaccination for the third phase for the general public. However, we are scrutinising applications of more private hospitals, and this number [of private hospitals for vaccination drive] will increase in the coming days.”

Also Read | India adds 12,408 Covid-19 cases, active cases fall below 152,000

He added, “Currently, for the first and second phase we are managing with government-run hospitals for vaccination, but the third phase will require the help of private hospitals as well.”

On the number of people to be vaccinated once private hospitals are roped in, Kakani said that would be decided once there is clarity on the vaccine supply for the third phase.

However, Municipal Commissioner Iqbal Singh Chahal had earlier said around 100,000 citizens can be vaccinated once private hospitals are roped in for vaccination drive.

Meanwhile, as of Thursday, the BMC had vaccinated 62,954 beneficiaries wherein Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar has vaccinated highest the most, 9,461 people, followed by Bhabha Hospital at 9,454 inoculations.