Give info on vax policy for disabled: SC to govt

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre to provide details of its policy framework and steps taken to prioritise Covid vaccination of persons with disability and the scientific study carried out to determine the safety protocol for inoculation of pregnant and lactating women.

Petitioner Evara Foundation, an NGO, argued before a bench of justices DY Chandrachud and BV Nagarathna that the Indian Medical Association has recommended door-to-door vaccination of persons with disability (PwD), but only Jharkhand and Kerala have implemented this as part of their vaccination policy.

The bench issued notice to the Centre and sought its reply affidavit in two weeks detailing the steps taken to vaccinate over two crore persons with disability and requested solicitor general Tushar Mehta to remain present to assist the court in dealing with the issue with compassion.

Apart from easy access to vaccination centres, preferably door-to-door vaccination, the petitioner, through advocate Pankaj Sinha, is also seeking the setting up of a dedicated vaccination helpline for disabled persons. The bench also entertained a petition filed by the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights seeking a direction to the Centre for conducting a scientific study to understand the effects of Covid vaccination on pregnant and lactating women. It said whatever the effect, it could be transmitted to the child. The SC sought response from the Centre on the PIL within two weeks and again requested Mehta to assist the court in this matter.