The entire eligible population in the country will be vaccinated by the end of 2021, the Centre informed the Supreme Court on Monday. The Centre’s response came as it faced tough posers from the top court regarding its national vaccination policy and its decision to allow dual pricing of vaccines.
Hearing the suo moto case on COVID issues, a 3-judge bench comprising Justices DY Chandrachud, L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat asked the centre to explain the rationale for dual pricing policy. The Court asked the centre why it was providing states with 100 per cent of doses required for the 45+ age group, but only 50 per cent of those needed for the 18-44 demographic.
“We are not framing policy. There’s an order of 30th April that these are the problems. You will be flexible. You can’t just say that you’re the Centre and you know what’s right. We have a strong arm to come down on this”, Justice Chandrachud told the Solicitor General of India, Mr.Tushar Mehta
“Your rationale was high mortality in 45+ group (but) in the second wave this group is not seriously affected… it is 18-44. If purpose is to procure vaccines, why should the centre procure only for over 45?” the bench asked.
Also Read: GoM formed to examine GST exemption for Covid relief material
The court also asked tough questions over the central government’s move to make COWIN registration mandatory for getting vaccine slots. The Court observed requiring people to register on the CoWIN digital platform before getting the shot will hamper vaccination efforts in rural areas, where access to the internet is unreliable. “Everyone has to register on CoWIN (but) the digital divide… Is it realistically possible to expect (people) from rural areas to register on COWIN?” the court asked.
“Even in the villages, they have to get registered at a common centre. Is that really practical?”, the judge further asked.
Pingback: Bharti Airtel extends free vaccination programme for nearly 80k staff of partner, distributor network