Take Special Efforts To Persuade Citizens To Take COVID Vaccine : Karnataka High Court To State

A division bench of Chief Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Aravind Kumar said "There are large numbers of people which include workers on construction sites and infrastructure projects which are underway in Bengaluru city. The question is whether the state government should make special efforts to persuade the citizens residing in thickly populated localities who are more vulnerable to infection to take vaccines."

It added "Perhaps it will be a measure in the direction of curbing the spread of infection of covid-19, state government shall respond on this aspect, on the next date of hearing."

During the hearing of a batch of petitions the bench orally said "How the vaccination reaches is important, it is not only those people who opt for the vaccine will go and take it. It must reach the masses. Best method is to vaccinate more and more people. Is it not the states responsibility that those who are above 60, subject themselves to vaccination? Those who badly need it must get it."

Additional Advocate General Dhyan Chinnappa submitted "There has to be a balance between citizens and availability of vaccine." Then the court said "Some awareness drive can be initiated. There has to be a massive scale for vaccination."

Justice Oka orally said "We are not interfering with the administration but the issue of vaccination has direct correlation with Article 21, Right to Health and ultimately the vaccination must be made available to those people who are more susceptible." Chinnappa responded by saying "We can only persuade them to come, we cannot take the vaccine there and give them."

The court posted the matter for further hearing next week even directed BBMP to place on record steps taken by it.