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The Bombay High court on Tuesday was informed by the Maharashtra government and BMC that they would start door-to-door vaccination against Covid-19 for bed-ridden and immobile people in the city as a pilot project from August 1.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Girish Kulkarni appreciated the state's fresh guidelines on door-to-door vaccination and pulled up the Union government for "not airising to the occasion for the citizen."

The bench was hearing a PIL filed by advocate Dhruti Kapadia seeking door-to-door vaccination for elderly and bedridden citizens in the state.

The state, in the last hearing, was ordered to submit the guidelines on Monday.

"It looks more like the Union government 'Near the Home' policy. I fail to understand that when all states can smoothly conduct this drive why are we struggling in Maharashtra?" Kapadia argued.

During the hearing, the bench sought to know the response of citizens to online registration for door-to-door inoculation drive.

Senior counsel Anil Sakhare for the BMC informed that a total of 3,505 persons have registered till Monday.

"By August 1 we will start this drive in Mumbai," Sakhare said, to which AG added, "Till last hearing we planned to start this as a pilot project in Pune but now we have decided to start from Mumbai."

The bench accordingly adjourned the matter till August 6 with a directive to the authorities to submit a report on any Adverse Effect Following Immunisation (AEFI) cases reported during the drive from August 1 onwards.

"We would also want to know how the vaccinators took care of it," CJ added.

Kapadia further raised the issue of prices of the vaccines, to which Justice Kulkarni while perusing the policy pointed out that the drive would be free for all.

“Citizens won't have to pay for the vaccines since it is being done by the corporation. Also, the authorities should consider including the wheelchair-bound citizens, who have already got the first doses," Justice Kulkarni said.

The bench in its order, said, "It is unfortunate that the Union government didn't rise to the occasion; however, state has arisen, though late."

The judges further said they won't be "ambitious" and won't allow the private hospitals at this stage to start door-to-door vaccination of bedridden citizens.

"That could be considered at the next date of hearing," CJ Datta said while adjourning the case till August 6.

Defining Eligibility for Door to Door vaccination drive:

 - Physically disabled, wheelchair or on stretcher

 - Immune compromised, those on chemotherapy or cancer care or terminally ill

 - Also, all individuals above or below 60 years age with no vaccination or 1st dose, disabled physically or medically

 

[Inputs from Free Press Journal]