Tamil Nadu- Differently abled to be given preference for vaccination, regardless of age.

On 19th April, 2021 the High Court at Madras recognised the priority which ought to be given to the differently abled community at the time of vaccination. An undertaking was given by the State Government to provide a separate counter at all government vaccination centres to vaccinate only persons who were differently abled.

Relevant extracts of the said order have been reproduced below-

“Accordingly, the statement of the State is recorded that all Government vaccination centres will have a separate counter throughout the day when vaccination is undertaken at such centres exclusively for persons with disabilities. At any rate, persons with disabilities should be given priority in being vaccinated even if the numbers do not warrant an exclusive counter being set up at every Government vaccination centre. The Union has relied on a document appended at page 21 of the typed set filed on behalf of the Union on March 19, 2021. The last entry is in the form of a certificate to identify individuals with co-morbidities that enhance the risk of mortality. Item 20 in the list of criteria deals with persons with disabilities due to intellectual disabilities/muscular dystrophy/acid attack with involvement of respiratory system/person with disabilities having high support needs/ multiple disabilities including deaf-blindness.

Accordingly, the State is directed to give priority to such persons suffering from disability as indicated in the relevant Annexure, irrespective of whether such person has attained the age of 45 but subject to a previous reasoned basis being arrived at as to what would be the minimum appropriate age for a person to be vaccinated.

The State may also consider administering vaccine to persons above the age of 18 but suffering from any form of disability as indicated in the Schedule to the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 instead of confining it to the disabilities indicated in the Union's annexure. Every endeavour should be made by the State to enable vaccination as expeditiously as possible to protect the lives of persons with disabilities. “