New Delhi: In an affidavit filed by the Centre in response to the PIL filed by Evara Foundation, officials clarified that the COVID vaccine is not mandatory. The PIL filed by the NGO foundation sought door-to-door priority Covid-19 vaccination for persons with disabilities and exemption for such persons from producing vaccination certificates.
“The Covid-19 vaccination is for larger public interest in light of the ongoing pandemic situation. It is duly advertised, advised and communicated through various modes of media that all citizens should get vaccinated,” the affidavit read.
It asserted that no individual can be forced to get vaccinated. Slamming the allegations in the PIL, the affidavit further mentioned that no Standard Operating Procedures were laid down that required persons with disabilities to carry COVID-19 vaccination certificates for any purpose.
According to the Ministry of Health, 23,678 doses of the Covid-19 vaccine have been administered to people who have voluntarily used their disability certificates for registering themselves for the jab. Cumulatively 157.20 crore beneficiaries have been vaccinated under the nationwide vaccination drive.