In the last two months, private hospitals, which were once leading the vaccination drive in Mumbai, have witnessed a 68 per cent drop in numbers. This reason for this slump, experts said, was because the eligible population that could afford to pay for the vaccine at these centres, had got at least one dose.

Dr Gautam Bhansali, chief coordinator for all private hospitals for vaccination and Covid-19, said, “People who could afford the vaccine cost, preferred going to private hospitals and by now, have got their jab. It’s those who cannot afford the vaccine that have been left out. That’s the reason why we are seeing a drop in vaccination numbers in private hospitals.”