The Union government,  said that a door-to-door service for senior citizens, specially-abled, bed-ridden and wheelchair-bound people is currently not possible, but added that near-to-door inoculation centres are feasible and are an appropriate solution to door-to-door vaccination.

The Union government made the claim in an affidavit filed at the Bombay High Court. “The National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration (NEGVAC) has considered the issue of door-to-door vaccination and opined that “near-to-door” vaccination would be an appropriate solution and not door-to-door vaccination,” Centre told HC. 

Chief Justice Dipankar Datta asked the Centre to explore which other countries have been able to carry out vaccination for such a large population and suggested that the government can do the exercise of door-to-door vaccination by finding its own way. 

SOPs for ‘near-to-home’ vaccination centres are ready: Centre tells HC

Last month, a division bench of the Bombay High Court headed by Chief Justice Datta had directed the NEGVAC to consider implementing door-to-door vaccination of certain group of individuals, including senior citizens. The court was hearing a plea that cited that many people would be unable to make it to the vaccination centres.

The Centre, in its affidavit also said that the Union Health Ministry has formulated Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for ‘Near to Home Vaccination Centres’ on May 27. It also said that such vaccination centres can be linked to the ongoing vaccination drive and can even be operated from non-health infrastructure.

“The concerns raised by the expert committee on why door-to-door vaccination cannot be started are not very serious. These can be overcome if the government wishes to,” the High Court said in response.