No one is forced to take vaccination: government tells SC
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New Delhi: The Union government has informed the Supreme Court that Covid-19 vaccination has not been made mandatory, and no one can be forced to take the vaccine, Live Law reported.
The government was responding to a plea that sought ease in accessing vaccination for individuals with disabilities. It told the court that the health ministry does not mandate forcible vaccination without gathering the individual's consent.
The government reiterated that the vaccination drive is in the interest of the larger public, and citizens are advised to get inoculated, which the government has made aware through advertisements through various platforms.
On December 3 2021, the Supreme Court had allowed petitioners to submit suggestions so that disabled citizens have access to vaccines, and it had asked the government to consider the same.
The government told the court that a total of 23678 doses were administered to disabled persons who had come voluntarily to get vaccinated. The petitioners further sought an exception for disabled persons from producing their vaccination certificates, but the government responded that it hadn't made mandatory the requirement of vaccine certificates for any purpose.
The government told the court that in November 2021, it had advised all the states and union territories to vaccinate all the bedridden or differently-abled individuals and their caregivers. It must be done even going to their residences by forming mobile vaccination teams.
The government is also working on the Co-WIN app to make it accessible for differently-abled people. The app includes 11 languages so that vaccination information is available in public.