Carrying COVID-19 vaccine certificate not mandatory for persons with disabilities: Centre to Supreme Court

The Central government has informed the Supreme Court that it has not issued any Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that requires persons with disabilities to carry COVID-19 vaccination certificates for any purpose..The same was stated in a reply filed by the Centre in response to the plea filed by NGO Evara Foundation seeking door-to-door, priority COVID-19 vaccination for persons with disabilities..The plea highlighted that persons with disabilities are at a greater risk of contracting COVID-19 due to difficulties faced by then in adhering to hygiene measures, enacting social distancing norms, underlying health conditions etc.The petition filed through Advocate Shashank Singh also said that scheduling an appointment at a particular vaccination centre was a highly technical process, as a result of which persons with disabilities were facing difficulties in getting vaccinated..The affidavit filed by the Centre also stated it "does not envisage any forcible vaccination without obtaining the consent of the concerned individual.""COVID-19 vaccination is for larger public interest in view of the ongoing pandemic situation. It is duly advertised, advised and communicated through various modes of media that all citizens should get vaccinated...however no person can be forced to be vaccinated against their wishes," the reply said..The affidavit also called for the continuing use of face masks or face covers, and contains details on Near to Home Vaccine Centres (NHCVCs) and the Har Ghar Dastak Abhiyan policy to stress that door-to-door vaccination of eligible beneficiaries including persons with disabilities will be carried out..The Centre has further stated that such persons not having ID cards are also eligible for vaccination since the CoWin website provides the facility for creation of special vaccination sessions for this purpose. Such sessions "will have the features of registration of as many benficaries as are to be covered without mandatory capturing of mobile number and photo ID card," the affidavit clarified..The Supreme Court will hear this case tomorrow.