Isn't taking a second dose of corona vaccine a fundamental right of the people: Karnataka High Court

New Delhi, 13 May 2021 Thursday

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday expressed concern over the shortage of corona vaccine in the state and the delay in getting another half of the people. A bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Arvind Kumar said there were only 11 lakh vaccines left in the state while 31 lakh people were queuing for the second dose of vaccine. The High Court, in view of the acute shortage of vaccines, questioned whether taking a second dose of vaccine was not their fundamental right.

The court asked Additional Solicitor General of India (ASG) Aishwarya Bhatti, 'How can you bridge this gap?' The court also asked the government what the consequences of not taking the second dose of the vaccine on time could be. The court asked whether it was not a fundamental right of the people to take a second dose of corona vaccine within the time limit under Article 21.

The ASG told the court that a core team was studying whether the vaccine could be taken even after the deadline, and that it would submit its report in two days.

"These are all excuses we are being told," the bench said. Tell me how you can overcome the lack of vaccines. Isn't it necessary for more and more people to get immunity? '

The ASG told the bench that states have been instructed to give priority to people aged 45 and above, who are to take a second dose of the vaccine, adding that states have been told that 70 per cent of the vaccine allotted by the Center should be used in a second dose.

The bench said, 'Your ministers should bring the truth before the people. Do not make different statements among the people, put the available vaccine data on the website. The Karnataka government on Wednesday temporarily stopped vaccinations for people between the ages of 18 and 44.