Covid-19 vaccine: Watch movies for free while waiting for your turn to get the jab

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As hospitals are trying to manage long queues for vaccine aspirants, a unique collaboration between a hospital and a movie theatre has come up with an arrangement where an individual can wait in the theatre before and after getting the jab when he can watch a movie for free.

Priya Cinemas, one of Kolkata’s landmark theatres, has turned itself into a vaccine centre in collaboration with Medica Superspeciality Hospital.

The elderly

“My single screen theatre is shut now. Therefore, it can be used to help the people. This will reduce the stress and discomfort of patients, especially the elderly, who have to wait in sultry conditions or in congested places for vaccination,” said Arijit Dutta, the owner of the cinema hall.

Dutta said that all formalities have been completed. “Once vaccines arrive Priya’s door will be open,” added Dutta.

The movie can be watched free of cost but one has to pay the normal fee for vaccination.

Get a slot

For this experience, one has to book a slot for vaccination through the CoWin portal. Once the time slot is taken from the hospital, one has to arrive at the theatre at the given date and time.

Once the patient arrives, the formalities will be cleared on the ground floor.

People can then wait in the air-conditioned comfort of the theatre. A film will be running and they can watch it maintaining distance between the seats.

Step out, step in

Once an individual’s turn is announced, he/she will step out of the auditorium and get the shot. After the jab, he/she has to return to his/her seat and watch the rest of the movie.

Those getting the vaccines are being asked to stay back to watch for about 30 minutes in the normal course.

A movie usually takes 1.5-2 hours. A recent hit Bengali movie will be played.

Confirming the arrangement, Medica authorities said once the sufficient number of vaccines arrive, they would start sending patients to the theatre.

Waiting for vaccines

The hospital which is located on EM Bypass has taken up a plan to vaccinate 1,000 people every day. Officials said that their first priority is to inoculate those above 45 years. If they have sufficient vaccines left, they would take up the younger (18-45 years) group.

According to the Union health ministry data, till Friday morning the total number of people vaccinated in Bengal is 1.16 crore.

Of them 87.5 lakh have been administered the only first dose. Those who got both the doses numbered about 28.2 lakh.