Why launch drive if no doses: Court to Delhi government

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Wednesday questioned the AAP government on why it started the vaccination drive with "much pomp and splendour" if it could not ensure timely second dose of vaccines to people. It said if the government is unable to deliver the second dose as scheduled, then it shouldn't have launched so many vaccination centres.
"Why did you (Delhi government) start it (vaccination) if you were not sure you can provide the second dose? You should have stopped. Maharashtra stopped when it found it cannot provide second dose," Justice Rekha Palli said while hearing petitions by those who are still waiting for the second jab. "You opened so many vaccination centres everywhere with so much pomp and splendour and now you say you don't know when the second dose stock would be available," it said while issuing notice to the government. The HC asked the government to give details whether it can provide the second dose of Covaxin to those who got the first jab before the expiry of the six-week gap between the two doses.
Delhi govt assures court of updates on Covaxin stock
It also issued notice to the Centre on the two petitions seeking to make the second dose of both vaccines against Covid-19 — Covaxin and Covishield — available in the national capital. One of the petitions has been moved by a lawyer, Ashish Virmani, who received the first dose of Covaxin on May 3 and since May 29 has not been able to book a slot for receiving the second jab, which has to be taken within six weeks of the first.
However the Delhi government told the HC that the matter of getting stocks is currently between the state and the manufacturer and it is trying to ensure the vaccines reach Delhi so that more and more people can be vaccinated.
The government assured the court that it will examine the aspect and place before the court by when the stock of Covaxin would be available and whether those who got the first jab can be provided the second dose within the stipulated time of six weeks.
The Delhi high court listed the matter for hearing on June 4.