HC asks State why it cannot start door-to-door vaccination for senior citizens, specially-abled and bedridden people without the central govt’s approval
A beneficiary receives her Covid-19 shot at a vaccination centre in Chembur on Monday. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday asked the Maharashtra government why it needs approval from the Centre to start door-to-door Covid-19 vaccination for senior citizens, specially-abled and those who are bedridden.
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The state government on Tuesday filed an affidavit in the HC, saying home vaccination on an experimental basis can be started, but only for bedridden people. However, the Centre will have to approve the proposal, it added.
“Why do you [Maharashtra government] need approval? Health is a state subject, too. Is the state government doing everything after taking approval from the Centre? Have states like Kerala, Bihar and Jharkhand taken approval from the Centre?” a division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni asked.
The bench was hearing a PIL filed by advocates Dhruti Kapadia and Kunal Tiwari, seeking direction to the Centre to start door-to-door vaccination for bedridden citizens, specially-abled people and those aged 75 years and above.
Earlier, the Centre had said door-to-door vaccination cannot be introduced currently owing to various reasons, including wastage and the risk of adverse reaction.
The court had then asked the state if it was willing to start door-to-door vaccination. In its affidavit, the State Family Welfare Board said the government has been following the Centre’s guidelines for vaccination and till date, it (the state) has not made any request for door-to-door vaccination.
As per the affidavit, door-to-door vaccination can be introduced on an experimental basis for bedridden people, who will need a certificate from their respective doctors. The certificate must state that the person isn’t likely to have any adverse reaction, and if there is one, the doctor shall be entirely responsible for appropriate treatment. Family members shall have to provide written consent for vaccination at home, it added.
“In order to avoid vaccine wastage, at least 10 beneficiaries shall be made mandatorily available in close proximity as one vial contains 10 doses of vaccine,” it added. The affidavit said if this proposal is accepted by the state government, then the same shall be sent to the Centre for approval. The bench will hear the matter again on Wednesday.
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