Supreme Court Asks Centre to Frame Compensation Policy for Serious Covid Vaccine Side Effects
The court also clarified that its decision would not prevent individuals from pursuing other remedies available under law.
Supreme Court Asks Centre to Frame Compensation Policy for Serious Covid Vaccine Side Effects
The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked the Centre to frame a policy to compensate individuals who suffer serious adverse effects after Covid-19 vaccination, saying such a framework can operate on a no-fault basis.
The court said compensation could be provided even without determining liability, adding that introducing such a policy would not amount to an admission of negligence or responsibility by the government or any other authority.
The directions were issued by a bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta while hearing petitions concerning adverse reactions following vaccination.
During the hearing, the bench said the existing mechanism for monitoring adverse events after immunisation should continue to function. Justice Nath observed that there is no need for the court to set up a separate expert body.
The court also clarified that its decision would not prevent individuals from pursuing other remedies available under law.
The petitions before the court raised concerns over serious side effects linked to Covid-19 vaccination. One of the pleas alleged that two women died in 2021 after receiving the first dose of a Covid-19 vaccine and had suffered severe adverse reactions following immunisation.