Elderly asked to choose between devil and sea: Bombay High Court asks Centre to consider door-to-door COVID-19 vaccination

The Bombay High Court on Thursday asked the Central government to revisit its decision of not encouraging door-to-door COVID-19 vaccination for the elderly and persons with disabilities. .The Bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni opined that despite not being experts in the field of medicine and health, the justifications given by the Central government for not initiating a door-to-door vaccination policy need to be revised for various reasons. .Among other reasons, the Centre had contended that a door-to-door vaccination would mean that it may not be possible to give proper medical attention if there is an Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI) to the vaccinated person. It was added that it may not be possible to monitor such persons for 30 minutes after vaccination either, as is usually done in vaccination centres. .[COVID-19] Five reasons why the Central government thinks door-to-door vaccination is not feasible.The Court, however, observed that elderly persons and persons with co-morbidities may face more risks if they are asked to step out to get vaccinated. This was regrettable as elderly citizens were being asked to choose between "the devil and the deep sea," the Bench said..Another reason cited by the Centre was that the transportation of the vaccine to the door step involves greater risk of it being exposed or contaminated in transit. Unconvinced, the Bench responded, ."Should long exposure of the vaccine result in contamination, it is for the Government in its appropriate department to explore ways and means to prevent contamination as well as exposure beyond the recommended temperature so that the vaccination programme can be taken to the door steps of elderly and disabled citizens.".The Court opined that Centre's affidavit overlooked the fact that presently new generation ambulances with ICU facilities were available. It was difficult to accept the contention that an ambulance with refrigerator is not available to maintain the temperature of the vaccine, the Court added..Further, it was also pointed out that there are risks to taking elderly persons to COVID-19 vaccination centres, where huge crowds may gather and where COVID-19 protocols are sometimes unintentionally compromised. .Expressing that the Centre's reasons for its stance were difficult to sustain, the Bench proceeded to opine that a policy which leads to such confusion has to be viewed as arbitrary and unreasonable for elderly citizens and able bodied citizens who are entitled to protection under Article 21 of the Constitution..Therefore, the Court has granted two weeks time for the Centre to relook the decision to not have a door-to-door vaccination policy. ASG Anil C Singh undertook to do the same.The same plea also sought for a grant of vaccines to citizens who may not have an Aadhar card..[COVID vaccination] Plea in Bombay High Court seeks door-to-door vaccination facility for senior citizens, specially-abled people.Bearing in mind the shortage of vaccines at vaccination centres, the Court adjourned the hearing to May 6, to consider the other issues enlisted in the plea..Earlier, the Bench had enquired with the Centre regarding the mandatory requirement of Intensive Care Units (ICU) for administering the vaccine. Through an affidavit, the Centre responded that there is no such requirement for an ICU for the administration of COVID-19 vaccines..In earlier hearings, the High Court had also expressed its disapproval at political leaders in Maharashtra getting COVID-19 vaccination at their homes despite there being no door-to-door vaccination policy in place.."If the Prime Minister (Narendra Modi) can go to the vaccination centre and get vaccine, then why cannot Maharashtra leaders do the same?" the Court had asked..[Read order]