Huge national waste if second COVID vaccine dose not given on time: Karnataka HC berates govt

The Karnataka High Court on Thursday berated the state and Central government for the unsatisfactory handling of the COVID-19 vaccination drive, particularly the omission to give the second dose of vaccines to those who had received the first dose.

A Bench of Chief Justice AS Oka and Justice Aravind Kumar said that the state should come clean on the issue and disclose to the public about the availability of vaccines.

"You must come clean before the members of the public. Come with the truth. Some people are going to vaccination centres and coming back. You need to set a priority on who will get vaccines now. Your ministers and others should tell the truth to people. Tell the truth to the public, don't make any inconsistent statements to the public," the Bench remarked.

Towards this end, the court suggested that such data be published online, Bar & Bench reported.

The Bench further remarked that while the state has a population of over 6 crore people, only 22 lakh have received both does of COVID-19 vaccine.

The Central government told the court that it had asked states to reserve 70 percent of vaccines received for the second dose.

"Why has Karnataka violated all the guidelines? There is a serious lapse on your part. Why have you not reserved 70% doses for second dose? If you had done that, we would not have this problem now," the court told the state.

The court was also critical of the Centre' s vaccine policy highlighting the shortage of vaccines and suggesting that if second dose of vaccine is not given on time, it will be a "huge national waste".

The Bench asked Centre about the time period within which the second dose should be administered.

"If someone takes second dose of Covaxin after 4 weeks and Covishield, after 8 weeks, what will happen? Is it not the right of a person under Article 21 to get the second dose in a timely manner," the Bench asked.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati replied that the stipulated period is ideal period.

"Over the ideal period the vaccine can be taken.....A core group is studying and in two days they will gives us report," Bhati said.

"These are all excuses... You tell us how will you bridge the gap. Is it not necessary that maximum people should get immunity," the Bench demanded.

The court demanded whether the Centre was suggesting that the second dose can be taken any time even if it is delayed.

"Are you really suggesting that if one person takes first dose, he can take the second dose whenever? Even if it is late, that it is okay?" the court demanded.

"If people are not given the second dose, it will be a huge national waste," the court added.

"We will make all possible endeavors to ensure that first dose does not go to waste. It is our duty to provide the second dose," the ASG replied.

The court eventually granted time to the state government to respond to the query as to why state overlooked Centre's advisories for prioritising the second dose of COVID-19 vaccine.

"ASG states that if the state government immediately furnishes the entire district-wise data of persons to whom the second dose is overdue or likely to become over due in near future, the Centre will make every endeavour to bridge the gap," the court recorded in its order.

It is in the light of assurance by ASG that, we are not issuing any mandatory direction today, the court added.

For all the latest India News, Follow India Section.