New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday said that it will wait for a decision by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on the recognition of Covaxin before considering a petition to permit people to voluntarily get vaccinated against COVID-19 with the Covishield vaccine even if they have been fully vaccinated with Covaxin.
A bench comprising Justice D.Y. Chandrachud observed that it has been reported that Bharat Biotech, manufacturer of Covaxin, has submitted the latest data to the WHO. The bench added that the decision is expected to come and told the petitioner's counsel to wait for some time, as there will not be any difficulty when the WHO recognises Covaxin.
The petition filed by Kartik Seth urged the top court to issue direction to the Centre, Bharat Biotech, the Indian Council of Medical Research, and the Directorate General of Health Services, to not restrain those who voluntarily, at their own risk, want to get vaccinated by Covishield, after taking two shots of Covaxin.
The petitioners' counsel argued that students, who were willing to study abroad, were facing difficulties in the absence of Covaxin's recognition by the WHO.
To this, the bench said how could it say that people who have been administered one vaccine, should be permitted to have another one. "We don't know what the complications will be. We can't play with people's lives," it said, insisting that the petitioner should wait, noting that it does not know what repercussions will originate from re-vaccination with a different vaccine.
After arguments, the top court scheduled the matter for further hearing post-Diwali vacation.
The petitioner's counsel pointed out that data in connection with Covishield was submitted to the WHO in December last year, after which it was recognised.
The plea also sought directions for the Centre to issue SOPs and guidelines, which would allow the re-vaccination of fully vaccinated persons with another vaccine.