January 17, 2022: Amid the surge in COVID cases and the government’s push asking everyone to get vaccinated and states like Assam banning non-vaccinated people from entering public places, the Centre in an affidavit filed before the Supreme Court, has said that that the Covid vaccine is not mandatory and “no person can be forced to get vaccinated against their wishes."

"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. However, no person can be forced to get vaccinated against their wishes," the affidavit filed by the Centre in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) for door-to-door vaccination of disabled persons said.

The PIL filed by Evara Foundation had raised concerns that persons with disabilities were at high risk.

The Centre in its affidavit said that it has "not issued any Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) that required persons with disabilities to carry Covid-19 vaccination certificates for any purpose”. However, it added that the ‘Near-to-Home Vaccine Centres (NHCVCs) and the Har Ghar Dastak Abhiyan policy’ have been created to ensure that "door-to-door vaccination of eligible beneficiaries, including persons with disabilities is carried out”.