Door-To-Door Vaccination Not Possible: Centre Tells Bombay High Court

The division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice GS Kulkarni is hearing a PIL seeking door-to-door vaccination for senior citizens above 75-years, specially-abled persons, and those suffering from serious illnesses and diseases.

The affidavit filed by Satyendra Singh, Under Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, to oppose the plea stated that the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration (NEGVA) for Covid19 has been guiding all aspects of the vaccination drive.

He said that door-to-door vaccination was not possible for the following reasons,

1. In case of Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI), there might be a delay in reaching the health facility, and managing that case may not be as per requirement;
2. There may be challenges in maintaining the protocol of observation of the beneficiary for 30 mins after the vaccination.
3. The vaccine will be placed in and out of the Vaccine carrier for each vaccination thereby increasing chances of contamination, moreover, exposure beyond recommended temperature could affect the efficacy of the dose and increase the chances of Adverse Events Following Immunisation(AEFI), which will be detrimental to vaccine confidence and program performance.
4. High vaccine wastage due to the increased time to reaching each beneficiary.
5. It may be difficult to follow protocols of physical distancing during door-to-door campaigns.

The affidavit further clarified that an attached ICU is not necessarily required, as the occurrence of AEFI is fairly rare. The treatment for AEFI is provided free of cost at Public Centres, adding, that the centers have trained professionals to take care of medical management post-vaccination.

It mentioned that the process for registration is available at https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/GuidancedocCOWIN2.pdf

During an earlier hearing, the HC questioned how political leaders in Maharashtra were getting vaccinated for the Covid- 19 virus at home, when even the President and Prime Minister of the country was going to the designated centre, in the absence of a uniform door-to-door policy.

[PIL No. 9228 of 2021 Dhruti Kapadia & another VS Union of India]