'Will Implement Door-To-Door Vaccination Once Centre Issues Guidelines': BMC Tells Bombay High Court

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation(BMC) on Thursday informed the Bombay High court it will implement "Door-to-Door Vaccination" for elderly and disabled citizens once the guidelines for the same are issued by Central Government.

Further, the Mumbai Corporation through its affidavit has said that it has followed all guidelines issued by Centre and the State, and the Centre is yet to come with poliry or guidelines for said "Door-to-Door Vaccination

The Corporation has on May 20th filed an affidavit post High Court's yesterday's order to apprise the court of whether notwithstanding disinclination of the Central Government to formulate door to door vaccination policy for elderly and disabled citizens, the Corporation is prepared to introduce door to ' door vaccination for such citizens and undertake measures for their vaccination upon making them aware of the aftereffects/consequences, under proper medical care and upon obtaining consent of either such citizens or their near relatives, for being vaccinated.

The affidavit filed through Dr. Mangala D. Gomare, Executive Health Officer, Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai has also stated that subject to availability of sufficient stock of vaccination, will abide by further orders that may be passed by the High Court regarding vaccination drive in Mumbai.

Don't Wait For Centre's Permission For Door-To-Door Vaccination, We Will Allow: Bombay High Court Tells BMC

The Corporation has also informed the Court that it has already started vaccination of Front Line Worker and Health Workers as well as citzens above 60 plus age group, as per guidelines issued by Central Government from time to time.

Further, vaccinating beneficiaries, working in private and government institute, guidelines for starting workplace COVID vaccination centres have been issued by State Government.

A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni had on Wednesday asked the Municipal Commissioner to apprise them by by Thursday they could introduce such a policy.

The Bench had further orally observed that if the Corporation was willing, the court would grant permission irrespective of the Union's stand.

"Can you do door to door vaccination? If you can, we will allow you. Come to help old residents. Don't wait for central government to give permission," the bench observed.

The bench was hearing a PIL by two advocates Dhruti Kapadia and Kunal Tiwari, seeking directions to the Central government to initiate a door-to-door vaccination drive for senior citizens above 75, persons with physical disabilities and those who are bed-ridden.