The Supreme Court also sought the complete data on the Centre’s purchase history of vaccines till date which includes all the COVID-19 vaccines, Coishield, Covaxin and Sputnik,- till date.
“The data should clarify: (a) the dates of all procurement orders placed by the Central Government for all three vaccines; (b) the quantity of vaccines ordered as on each date; and (c) the projected date of supply,” the order said.
The court has asked the government to file an affidavit detailing "data on the percentage of population that has been vaccinated... along with data pertaining to the percentage of rural population as well as the percentage of urban population vaccinated".
The three-judge bench, comprising Justices DY Chandrachud, L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat also directed the centre to release data on the percentage of population that has been vaccinated with a single dose, as well both the doses (of Covishield and Covaxin), as against eligible beneficiaries in the first three phases of the nationwide vaccination drive. The Apex court asked the Centre to clearly spell how and by when the entire population of the country will be vaccinated.
The Court fixed the matter for further hearing till June 30 and directed the Central government to file its affidavit within two weeks.
The court also asked the central government to list the measures taken to ensure availability of medicine for mucormycosis, commonly known as black fungus.
Referring to the Centre’s stated position that “every State/UT Government shall provide vaccination free of cost to its population”, the court asked the States and Union Territories to confirm whether or not it would do so.
The court directed the States and UTs to file their affidavits in this regard within the next two weeks and clarify their individual policies for free vaccination.
