[BREAKING] Supreme Court seeks complete data on Central Govt’s purchase history of all COVID-19 vaccines; asks when vaccination can be completed

The Supreme Court has asked the Central government to furnish complete data on the government’s purchase history of all the COVID-19 vaccines till date including Covaxin, Covishield and Sputnik V. .The Court ordered that the data should clarify: (a) the dates of all procurement orders placed by the Central government for all 3 vaccines; (b) the quantity of vaccines ordered as on each date; and (c) the projected date of supply. .The Court also asked the Centre to provide an outline for how and when the Central government seeks to vaccinate the remaining population in phases 1, 2 and 3.The order was passed by a Bench of Justcies DY Chandrachud, L Nageswara Rao and S Ravindra Bhat in the suo motu case initiated by the top court to deal with issues relating to Covid-19 management in the country. .The Court also ordered the government to provide data on the percentage of population that has been vaccinated with one dose and both doses, as against eligible persons in the first three phases of the vaccination drive. This shall include data pertaining to the percentage of rural population as well as the percentage of urban population so vaccinated, the Court said. .Further, the Court also sought information on the steps being taken by the Central Government to ensure drug availability for mucormycosis.All these details will have to be filed through an affidavit within two weeks. The Court also directed all States and Union Territories to file affidavits clarifying whether they are giving COVID vaccines for free at State vaccination centres. .The order, though passed on May 31, was published on the Supreme Court website only on June 2. During the hearing on May 31, the Court had questioned the Centre's vaccination policy regarding the differential pricing for States and Centre.The Bench had called for a uniform pricing policy to be adopted for COVID vaccines across the nation."Centre says it gets a low price since it buys in bulk. If this is the rationale, then why do states have to pay a higher price? There needs to be one price for vaccines across the nation. The pandemic has evolved in the last two months," Justice Chandrachud observed..[Read Order]