No person can be forced to get vaccinated against their wishes
The Centre has told the Supreme Court that COVID-19 inoculation guidelines issued by the Union health ministry do not envisage forcible vaccination without obtaining the consent of an individual. On the issue of exempting persons with disabilities from producing vaccination certificates, the Centre told the apex court that it has not issued any SOP that makes it mandatory to carry the vaccination certificate for any purpose.
The Centre said this 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. “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 consent of the concerned individual.
“It is submitted that vaccination for COVID-19 is of larger public interest in view of the ongoing pandemic situation,” the affidavit filed by the Union health ministry said. The ministry said that “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.” “However, no person can be forced to be vaccinated against their wishes,” it said.
COVID vaccine drive in India
India on Sunday completed its one year of COVID-19 vaccination drive. According to the health ministry, more than 92% of the adult population in the nation has gotten at least one dosage, and over 68% has been completely vaccinated. The one-year nationwide immunisation campaign against COVID-19 came to an end, with approximately 156.76 crore vaccine doses delivered. Furthermore, the country has begun administering booster doses of vaccinations to youngsters aged 15 to 18.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare informed that India documented 2,71,202 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday. The daily positivity rate stood at 16.28%. The overall number of cases of COVID-19 disease in the nation has risen to 3,71,22,164, with 15,50,377 active cases.
