A PETITION SEEKING DIRECTION FOR THE INCLUSION OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN THE CLASSIFICATION OF COMORBITIES FOR COVID-19 VACCINATION

16th March 2021

The Delhi High court has considered a response on a petition seeking direction for the inclusion of mental illness in the classification of comorbidities for covid Covid- 19 vaccination. The court has already sought responses from the Central Mental Health and the Nation Expert Group on the vaccine.

A petition was filed by one of the representatives named Gaurav Bansal, questioning the exclusion of mental illness from the list of specified comorbidities for the age group's eligibility criteria from 54-59. It was made on the ground that it is against the framework of WHO on the distribution of vaccines, which accounts for equal consideration and meaningful opportunity for the determination of 'prioritization criteria'. This petition refers to the 'Guidance Note For Cowin 2.0'. The guideline indicates vaccinating only prioritized citizens and excludes those fighting with any mental illness. The petition also prohibits the person with disabilities with 'high support' and the homeless mentally ill people from receiving Covid-19 vaccination. The petition has created barriers for thousands of people with severe mental illness, excluding disabled people with a certificate.

The present guidelines include the criteria of Covid-19 vaccination on a priority basis, i.e.

1. Health line and frontline workers.

2. Citizen aged or will attain the age of 60 years or more.

3. All citizens aged or will attain the age group 45-59 years and have classified to the list of comorbidities with a certificate of such subject.

Author: Papiha Ghoshal

PC: Medical buyer