'No One Is Safe Unless Every Individual Is Protected': Allahabad High Court Asks UP Govt To Take Expeditious Steps For Vaccine Procurement

"We must remember that in the context of Covid-19 virus unless every individual is protected, no one is safe," a Division Bench comprising of Justices Siddhartha Varma and Ajit Kumar observed.

It has directed the State Government to apprise the Court as to how it plans to procure vaccines from global market in an expeditious manner for said purpose.

"We direct the State Government to find ways and means to ensure immediate procurement of vaccines so that all in Uttar Pradesh may get vaccinated with its complete doses within 3-4 months time and tell us on the next date fixed how it proposes to expedite purchase of vaccines from global market," the order stated.

The direction was made after Additional Solicitor General of India and Additional Advocate General informed the Court that now the vaccines were available in the global market and anybody could purchase it and that the Government had already floated global tenders for the same.

The Bench opined that tender is a long drawn process. It observed,

"If we run late in vaccinating large number of population in the State, we may lose the real desired result of vaccination as the virus may achieve such mutations which may neutralize the vaccine also. Besides that, since large number of people are getting infected every day and the Scientists are of the view that third wave is almost at the door steps of India, it is necessary that Government should enter into direct dialogue with vaccine producers with the help of Indian Diplomats in those countries."

Additionally, the Bench considered issued with respect to vaccination of persons with disability.

"Government must come up with specific policy to vaccinate physically challenged persons," the Court ordered.

The Bench referred to the guidelines issued by the World Health Organization for disability considerations in respect of physically challenged persons during the Covid-19 outbreak. It was informed that till date in the entire vaccination programme undertaken by the State Government, it was not provided as to what were the guidelines for vaccination specific to the physically challenged persons.

The Court has accordingly asked both the Centre and the State to place before the Court the guidelines prepared for vaccination programme specific to the physically challenged persons.

Case Title: - In-Re Inhuman Condition At Quarantine Centres…

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