The High Court of Karnataka on Friday directed the State government to respond to a PIL seeking a special drive to administer COVID-19 vaccine to all persons with benchmark disabilities and their caregivers in every district from May 1.
A Division Bench, comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Suraj Govindaraj, passed the order on the petition by the Karnataka Rajya Vikalachethanara Rakshana Samiti, Bengaluru.
Pointing out that there is no mention of priority to be given for persons with disabilities in the third stage of vaccination beginning from May 1, the petitioner has said that Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 gives right of priority in attendance and treatment for persons with disabilities in the State’s healthcare facilities.
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“Persons with disabilities and their caregivers require vaccination at a priority level as they may be unable to follow social distancing, wearing of masks, or avoid contact due to their disabilities,” it was pointed out in the petition filed through advocate Viswesh Sekhar.
The only way to ensure that persons with disabilities are saved from COVID-19 is to ensure that all persons with disabilities are vaccinated along with their caregivers based on their ID cards or certificates of disability through the jurisdictional District Disability Welfare Officer, the petitioner stated.