MUMBAI The Union government told the Bombay High Court that its national rules do not currently allow for a door-to-door vaccination campaign against COVID-19.
Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, the Union government’s counsel, said some state governments. Municipal bodies had decided to ignore its advisory guidelines and also conduct door-to-door vaccination drives for special categories of citizens. Such drives are not possible a part of national policy.
ASG Singh was answering a previous question from a bench of Chief Justice. Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni on the Centre’s position on the BMC’s proposal to perform door-to-door vaccinations for the elderly, bedridden, and other vulnerable citizens.
“The government states its current advisory against such drives has established based on expert views,” ASG Singh said, referring to the BMC’s permission letter to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. “Some states and municipal bodies have carried out door-to-door vaccination. But from the national angle, the national policy should be followed. We request the court to bear with us for some time. For the time being, it is not practical or possible,” he said.
The ASG stated that the Centre, on the other hand, was improvising and revising its policy from time to time. That it might allow door-to-door vaccination programmes in the future.
According to ASG Singh, the Union government’s policy was mainly advisory. Hence states like Kerala, Odisha, and Jharkhand were undertaking similar drives did not instruct to stop.
The HC went to say that if Maharashtra, which has already started a willingness to conduct door-to-door immunisation efforts for the bedridden, chose to do so. It will be on the same footing as the states indicated above.
The bench also questioned that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) would follow the Centre. The state’s norms if Maharashtra launched a door-to-door campaign.
“We’ll stick to the rules set forth by the state. The state is considering the drive, but factors such as a lack of workforce. As three people will require to visit each individual vaccinated, the need for an ambulance and ensuring that no vaccine will waste it must consider all, “Anil Sakhre, a lawyer for the BMC, said.
State counsel Geeta Shastri told the HC that state health minister Rajesh Tope expressed his desire to start a door-to-door vaccination drive for bed-ridden and prepare a separate protocol for the same. He was yet to receive instructions on when the final decision would be taken.
The court was hearing a Public Interest Litigation brought by lawyer Dhruti Kapadia. She sought a door-to-door vaccination programme for residents over the age of 75. As well as those who were disabled or bedridden.
HC stated that it would issue detailed instructions later this evening.
The case will hear again on June 22.
STAY HOME, STAY SAFE
ALWAYS WEAR YOUR MASK
EAT ONLY HEALTHY AND FRESH FOOD
FOLLOW ALL THE GUIDELINES OF GOVT.
GET VACCINATED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE