Vaccination : a Moral or a Legal obligation ?

 

 

Dear Dr Harshvardhanji,

 

Only 2 days ago, Supreme Court said :

“ You, the Government declared COVID as a “ Notified Disease “ under NDMA . Hence, under that act, you are obliged to pay compensation to the next-of-kin of a person dying due to COVID. It is up to you to decide the amount of compensation. But you cannot escape your responsibility “

Dear Minister,

While debating the exact amount of compensation to be paid, I urge you to use this HC / SC “ observations “  to issue a further notification ( under NDMA ) making it MANDATORY – OBLIGATORY for all Indian Citizen to take the vaccine

A refusal to get vaccinated should invite an appropriate punishment ( need not be a Jail Term but could be deprival of benefits – cash or kind – available to a citizen under various benefit schemes , including “ reservation quota “ in education / jobs etc )

 

With regards,

Hemen Parekh  /  hcp@ecruituru.com  / 02 July 2021

 

Context :

In our country , educated persons are acutely conscious – and vociferous – about “ Citizen Rights “

Hardly anyone talks about “ Citizen Obligations “

Now the High Court is asking :

“  Can shot be refused in public health crisis : HC “  /  HT / 01 July 2021

Extract :

Ø  The Madras high court on Wednesday expressed doubt if anyone can have the right to refuse vaccination, given the larger interest of public health during the Covid-19 pandemic as vaccine hesitancy continues in some quarters.

Ø  “ Indeed, vaccinating oneself may not only be to protect oneself but also in the larger interest of public health,” the court said in its order. “When such a larger interest of public health comes into play and it is possible that a person who has not taken the vaccine may not reveal any symptoms but still be a silent carrier, it is doubtful whether the right to refuse to take the vaccine can be exercised in such circumstances.”

In my following e-mail, I had raised this issue 8 MONTHS ago :

Ø  Voting and Vaccination : Compare and Contrast…………………………[ 19 Oct 2020 ]

Extract :

Primary Onus for Vaccination

Although the primary onus lies with the citizen, Covid Pandemic is not only about saving the life of person “ volunteering “ to get himself vaccinated. He, also has the responsibility to save the lives of others, by not spreading the virus ( by getting vaccinated )

For this reason, using the powers vested in the Govt for “ Health Emergency “, Govt must issue a notification ( ordinance, if required ) , making vaccination MANDATORY for all  ( and prescribe punishment for refusal  )