Maha: Mental Illness Patients Will Be Getting Vaccination, Without Any Identification Proof

Mumbai: Officials on Monday said that from Wednesday onwards, Maharashtra will start the process of vaccinating patients with mental illnesses, irrespective of whether they have identification proof.

Since last week, the state has begun vaccinating patients who have identification proofs in Thane and Ratnagiri mental hospitals.

The Directorate of Health Services said that the drive that will start from Wednesday would not require the patients to have identification proof.

“Immunisation drive for those without identification proof will start from Wednesday,” Dr Sadhana Tayade, Director, Directorate of Health Services said.

However, the drive will gradually cover other groups such as residents of old age homes and rehabilitation centres as well as the destitute, nomads, beggars and other people who don’t necessarily have identification proof.

In a recent notification, the Centre has observed that mentally ill people along with beggars, prisoners, and old age home inmates make the most vulnerable to Covid19.

The centre in a statement said, “In this context, there is a need to provide special consideration to the vulnerable population of the country.”

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