Karnataka High Court sets out guidelines for vaccination

On 27th May, 2021 the High Court of Karnataka issued directions on the vaccination of its residents. Some of the salient features of the judgment have been given below-

• Distribution of vaccines-

  • 50% of the vaccines procured by the State is as ‘free vaccines from the Central Govt. Therefore, these vaccines must be used for free vaccination.

  • 25% of the vaccines procured by the State by directly placing the orders with the manufacturers/suppliers must be used by the State Government to provide free vaccines

  • The remainder of the 25% of the vaccines procured by the State by directly placing the orders with the manufacturers/suppliers can be utilized by authorized private hospitals and private agencies by purchasing vaccines directly from the manufacturers/suppliers.

• Covaxin-

  • The State Government has stopped giving the first dose of COVAXIN to any person falling in any of the age groups or any of the categories. The available stock of COVAXIN is being used by private health facilities to administer the second dose for the age group of 45 plus.

• COVISHIELD-

  • As regards the age group of 18-44 years, priority will be given only to Frontline Workers for the first dose of COVISHIELD.