Kohima bench of Gauhati High Court has directed the State government to speed up and complete Covid-19 vaccination at least within three months.
Hearing on a PIL (suo motu) on June 30, a bench of justices Songkhupchun Serto and Hukato Swu observed that in order to effectively prevent the impending third wave of Covid-19 pandemic, as opined by experts in the media, the State needed to ramp up vaccination.
After going through a report submitted by health & family welfare department counsellor N Mozhui, the court learned that 4,35,664 individuals had been given the first dose of the vaccine as on June 28 and 60,362 had received their second dose, while 13,54,722 individuals across all age groups were eligible for vaccination.
On availability of vaccines, the government report disclosed that there were 87,110 doses available in the State, to which the court observed that the stock was acutely short in comparison to the size of the population. It, therefore, tasked the Central and State governments to explore all possibilities at their command to make the required number of vaccines available in time.
The court expressed concern over not vaccinating shopkeepers and vegetable vendors on a priority basis.
Regarding keeping of Covid-infected persons at quarantine centres, after observing the affidavit filed by the State government through the chief secretary and Nagaland State Disaster Management Authority chairman, the court learned that the centres were in all the districts except, Mokokchung, Zunheboto and Tuensang.
The court said such centres should be opened even in districts where these were yet to be opened, pointing out that these would serve as additional preparations in the event of a third wave.
As requested by the H&FW counsellor, the court granted him time till the next hearing to collect data from chief medical officers (CMOs) on posting of medical personnel in all districts.
On the issue of healthcare workers (HCW) getting vaccinated, Mozhui informed the court that out of more than 25,000 HCWs, only around 15,000 had taken the vaccine, out of which around 10,000 had taken the second dose.
At this, the court expressed concern that HCWs were delivering services to the people at the risk of spreading the virus for the latter could get infected.
Although no one could be forced to take the vaccine unless he or she volunteered, the court directed that authorities should ensure that those HCWs who did not take the vaccine should produce testing certificates as and when they report for duties. Similarly, district task force (DTFs) too should ensure private hospitals follow the same, it ruled.
Regarding government servants, Mozhui said vaccination camps had been organised at secretariat and directorate levels.
Expressing happiness that the government had taken such steps, the court reminded the latter that no such exercises were organised for the judicial fraternity.
Amicus Curiae Taka Masa also submitted before the court that no such camps were organised for the journalist community, to which the court directed that special camps should also be organised for the media fraternity, given the nature of their profession.
The court also expressed concern at the status of vaccination of government servants since their services were required at all times, although departments have prepared rosters for attendance during lockdown keeping in view the SOPs issued now and then.
However, since no one knew when the war against Covid-19 would end, the court directed the government to come up with pragmatic plans so that office works were not affected for long time and instructed senior additional advocate K Sema to come prepared in the next hearing on this issue.
The matter has been listed for hearing again on July 14, during which the respondents would file affidavits on the issues that were mentioned and also on the compliance of the court’s directions.