Ascertain The Reasons Behind Vaccine Hesitancy Among State Population: Manipur High Court Directs State Govt

The Manipur High Court has directed the State government to specify as to how it proposes to augment the vaccination drive undertaken by it, in the light of the clear reluctance on the part of a lot of people to avail the benefit of such vaccination.

The Government has also been asked to ascertain the reason behind the COVID Vaccine hesitancy among the people.

The Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Kh. Nobin Singh also asked the State whether it proposes to provide vaccination facilities at the doorstep to the people in villages that are situated in remote hilly areas making it impossible for the residents to physically access the vaccination centres.

Directions of the Court

The Court directed the Central Government; RIMS, Imphal; and the NBCC Limited, to forthwith conduct joint meetings and resolve all pending issues and difficulties that are hampering the speedy installation and commissioning of two separate Oxygen plants.

"There appears to be a complete lack of communication and coordination amongst the parties concerned in relation to the actual installation and commissioning of the plants. So much so, there is no consensus even as to the manner in which the oxygen produced by the second plant would be utilized, i.e. whether it is to be conveyed through pipes or through oxygen cylinders," noted the Court while directing the parties to establish the plant immediately.

Significantly, noting that the first oxygen plant's equipment was brought by air from Bangalore to Jorhat in Assam, in the first instance, and it was thereafter transported by road to Imphal, the Court sought explanation Union's reply as to why the equipment was not flown straight to Imphal when direct flights are operating between Bangalore and Imphal.

Further, the Court directed the state government to inform this Court of all the steps that have been taken and the steps that are proposed to be taken in the context of this pandemic

The State has also been directed to explain as to what measures are being taken to educate people about the advantages of getting vaccinated and how their fears and apprehensions as to the possible side effects are being allayed.

Also, noting that the treatment of Covid patients in hospitals is falling short due to the failure of senior faculty members to participate in the treatment process, the Court sought the state's reply on this issue as well.

Lastly, the Government was also asked to respond on the issue of opening of ICU/HDU beds in the remaining district hospitals and some selected CHCs.

Case title - Naresh Maimom v. Union of India & 5 others

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