New Delhi: The Centre on Sunday told the Supreme Court that COVID-19 that no individual can be vaccinated against their wish. The Centre informed that the vaccination guidelines issued by the Union health ministry do not envisage forcible vaccination without consent. The comment came as India continues to struggle with the third wave of the deadly COVID-19 outbreak. The nation, on Sunday, also completed one year of COVID-19 vaccination drive.
The Centre told the court that there was no SOP that makes carrying the vaccination certificate for any purpose mandatory. The Centre’s explanation regarding the matter was noted in its affidavit filed in response to a plea by NGO Evara Foundation seeking door-to-door, priority COVID-19 vaccination for persons with disabilities.
The affidavit submitted on January 13 by the Centre said, “It is submitted that the direction and guidelines released by Government of India and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare do not envisage any forcible vaccination without obtaining the consent of the concerned individual.”
It further added that “It is submitted that vaccination for COVID-19 is of larger public interest in view of the ongoing pandemic situation. It is duly advised, advertised, and communicated through various print and social media platforms that all citizens should get vaccinated and systems and processes have been designed to facilitate the same.”
India has recently completed its one year of the vaccination drive, having administered 156 crore vaccine doses. Approximately 90 percent of eligible adult individuals have been given one dose, and nearly 60 percent have been fully vaccinated.
(_Vinayak)
