Provide 2nd COVID Vaccine Dose To All 18+ Population In Speedy Manner; Achieve 100% Vaccination Target By Dec 2021: MP High Court To Govt

The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday asked the State Government to step up the efforts to provide the second dose of vaccination to all the 18 plus population once when the vaccination becomes due on completion of the requisite period after the first dose, in a speedy manner.

The Bench of Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Vijay Kumar Shukla also asked the state to ensure that it achieves the target of 100% vaccination by the end of December, 2021.

The Court was hearing suo moto case regarding COVID management in the State, and it perused the 12th Interim Action Taken Report filed by the state government pursuant to the Court's order, in which the following points were made:

• Oxygen Generation Plants: Out of Oxygen Generation Plants 190 plants, 108 plants have already been made functional by the State Government and further, 36 plants have been delivered from the concerned agency and are in the process of installation and for installation of remaining plants, the preparatory work at the level of CMHOs is in progress.
• CT Scan Machines: The process of setting up of CT Scan Machines in the State is going on in full swing, the only issue is with regard to the supply of the CT Scan Machines as the demand for such machines in the country has undergone an increase. Nonetheless, the State Government apprised the Court that ot expected to achieve the target by October 4, 2021.
• Availability of ventilators: As of now there is sufficient availability of ventilators in all the districts of the State. Even otherwise demand/pressure for the requirement of ventilators has come done substantially.
•  Status of I.C.U./H.D.U (High Dependency Unit) Beds: There is sufficient availability of Oxygen/ICU/HDU/PICU beds in Hospitals and/or Medical Colleges. Moreover, pressure/demand in the hospitals for such beds has substantially come down following the improvement of the Corona situation in the State.
• Status of vaccination: The Government is expected to cover the entire 18 plus population by inoculation with the first dose by the end of September, 2021. Further, due to focused and concentrated efforts, it is going to provide full immunization cover to the entire 18 plus population by the end of December, 2021.

The report also submitted that the Government was soon coming out with a policy decision to rationalize the capping charges for treatment of Covid patients so as to be prepared to face with the third wave of Covid-19.

Also, with regard to refund of the charges for the vaccination provided to the private hospitals under the old policy of the Central Government, the Government submitted that such amount had already been refunded to the various hospitals in lieu of the return of the details of the vaccine of which have been given in the 12th Interim Action Taken Report. 

Court's observations

At the outset, the Court placed on record its appreciation of the work undertaken so far by the State Government with regard to the establishment of Oxygen Generation Plants, CT Scan Machines, Oxygen/ICU/HDU/IPCU beds in all the District Government Hospitals.

The Court also appreciated the all out efforts put in by the officials of the State and applauded their performance with regard to inoculation of the sizeable population of the State.

Further, the Court expressed its hope and trust that the State Government shall live up to its assurance of covering the entire 18 plus population by immunization with the first and second dose by the end of the year, 2021.

"We require the State Government to step up the efforts to provide the second dose of vaccination to all the 18 plus population once when the vaccination becomes due on completion of the requisite period after the first dose, in a speedy manner so as to achieve the target of 100% vaccination by the end of December, 2021," the Court concluded.

The matter has now been listed for further hearing on October 21.

Case title - In reference (Suo Motu) Vs. Union of India and others

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