216 crore COVID-19 vaccine doses will be made available by end of December 2021: Central government to Madras High Court

The Central government on Monday told the Madras High Court that 216 crore doses of COVID-19 vaccines would be made available by the end of December 2021..Upon Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee querying whether this would cover the country's population, Additional Solicitor General R Sankaranarayanan responded in the affirmative. This submission has been taken on record..The Chief Justice also orally observed that various states are facing problems in individually procuring the vaccine from manufacturers.“It may not be good for States to rival each other... in the race to obtain vaccines. So it must probably be done by the Centre,” he remarked..The ASG submitted that vaccine production by manufacturers such as Serum Institute and Bharat Biotech and those manufacturing Sputnik and Cadila vaccines are being increased..As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, however, the Bench expressed that the future allocation of vaccines, as outlined in the Centre's affidavit, appears to be skewed considering the number of COVID-19 cases in the State..The ASG assured the Court that the allocation is being done based on objective factors such as population size and positivity rate. The Court has, however, queried whether this aspect requires a re-look.."The future allocation of vaccines for Tamil Nadu appears to be somewhat disappointing, though the Centre maintains that the allocation is based on population of a State, positivity rate in the State and like objective factors. The allocation to Tamil Nadu as indicated in the Centre's affidavit may be revisited. However, there is hope that vaccines would be available in greater numbers upon various manufacturing units augmenting their production facilities," the Court's order stated..Another concern flagged was over the possible disruption of oxygen supply to Tamil Nadu from the Eastern corridor when Cyclone Yaas hits the East coast..The Court noted that the supply of oxygen to Tamil Nadu through this Eastern corridor (146 MT allocated) is not regular. Further, the State's submission that the Maharashtra government has agreed to allocate 20 MT was also recorded. .Nevertheless, the Bench expressed concern that the cyclone may completely disrupt the oxygen supply through the Easter corridor, and that alternative plans should be in place if that is the case. .The ASG, in turn, informed the Court that the Prime Minister has already met with the empowered committee and other officials to devise ways to tackle the issue. He added that he would come back to the Court on the decisions taken. The Court has taken this submission on record as well. .The Chief Justice further raised concern about black fungus cases being reported in the State. The Court has taken on record the Centre's submissions regarding measures to manufacture drugs required to combat the disease immediately and in bulk..Among other directions passed on Monday, the Court has also urged the Centre and the State to raise awareness about COVID-19 vaccinations and to encourage the same, keeping in view that some sections of the society are still reluctant to take the vaccine on account of superstition, false beliefs or misgivings. .These issues was raised in the suo motu case registed by the High Court to monitor COVID-19 management in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry. .Along with this matter, a batch of other COVID-19 related pleas were also heard on Monday afternoon by the Bench of Chief Justice Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy. The matter will be taken up next on Thursday..Other highlights of Monday's hearing include the following. .State should put caps on private hospital treatment.Taking note of media reports that there are private hospitals charging exorbitant rates for medical treatment, the Court has asked the State to consider capping the prices in private hospitals. ."...some kind of cap (should be) put based on the extent of services rendered so that an ordinary citizen unable to obtain a bed at a medical govt facility is not financially ruined only to try and save his life by obtaining admission at a private hospital," the Court said. .The order was passed in a plea raising concern over the high prices of medical treatment levied in private hospitals, particularly considering the interests of the poor and those who are not covered by insurance schemes such as the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme and the Group Health Insurance Scheme. .The Court also quizzed Advocate General R Shunmugasundaram on the eligibility criteria for persons to be included in the Chief Minister's insurance Scheme. The AG has submitted that he would file a response on this issue. .Also taken on record was the AG's submission that the scheme is intended to ensure free treatment for the poor, in the event that they have to go to a private hospital for treatment when a government facility is unavailable. .Release of prisoners to decongest prisons amid COVID-19.Among other submissions, Senior Advocate R Vaigai highlighted that there were several woman prisoners with children aged less than 6 years old whose interim release ought to be considered amid the pandemic. The Court expressed agreement on this."...such categories of inmates at correctional homes be also picked out for special treatment and allowed to return home or be granted parole or interim bail or the like to ensure that both the mother and the child remain protected. The other categories of persons who had been required to be considered to be released temporarily last year should also be considered by the relevant High Powered Committee under the aegis of the Legal Services Authority", the Court ordered..The prisoners so released should be released at least till July 15, the Court added. .Chief Justice Banerjee also orally observed that the issue of decongesting prisons should be dealt with on priority, adding that he is aware of how contaminated prisons can be. .The Court has asked the AG to immediately confer with the Director General of Police and the Secretaries of the concerned State departments. "I will also send word to the Legal Services Authority chairperson so this is done immediately. This is something that should have been done yesterday...When I was in Calcutta, in my capacity as chairperson of the Legal Services Authority, I have visited such facilities. I know what conditions exist inside," he said. .Dealing with three other individual matters, the Court has also issued directions for the following:The Court has asked the State for a plan of action on how those with severe disabilities or those who cannot leave home can be vaccinated. This matter will come up in two weeks time. The Court has observed that some form of State supervision should be there factories exempted from the lockdown to ensure that COVID-19 protocol is maintained in the factory and so that the health of workmen is not compromised. Among those who have moved the Court on this issue are workmen of Renault-Nissan. The State can take a considered decision on whether lawyers, judges, food service personnel etc. should be given vaccination on priority..[Read Orders]