Bengaluru: Those without an ID card are concerned now that the government has made it mandatory for those pursuing the Covid-19 vaccine to have one. On Wednesday, the issue was discussed via video conference with the Centre.
Aadhaar, driving license, health insurance smart card issued by the ministry of labor, MGNREGA work card, pan card, voter ID, and passports are among the ID documents that are approved, according to the Union health and family welfare ministry guidelines. Aadhaar cards are required by many hospitals.
However, it has been brought to the attention of the Karnataka government that certain residents do not have any of these. A letter signed by a gazetted officer or a notary is also not valid, according to authorities.
According to the daily newspaper TOI on March 24, Jain monks who take a vow of renunciation do not have ID cards. The Jain International Trade Organization (JITO) had written to BS Yediyurappa, the chief minister, pleading with him to make an exception.
Officials in the private health sector say they’ve encountered several people who don’t have identification cards but need vaccinations. In accordance with current regulations, identification is required during registration. A doctor who runs a nursing home said, We ask these people to come back with a government-issued ID card.
The government has made clear that an ID card is a must to get the vaccine, As a result, one of these documents must be obtained, KV Trilok Chandra, commissioner, health and family welfare department, suggested.
However, public health experts argue that refusing a vaccine to anyone due to a lack of identification is unethical.
If we are serious about controlling the disease, all of these restrictions must be lifted, said Dr. H Sudarshan, public health expert and secretary of the Karuna Trust.
He believes that using the internet to register is a bad idea. If we don’t vaccinate people because they don’t have an ID card, they can become contaminated and superspreaders. We should protect everyone from an epidemiological standpoint. He did, however, point out that even people in Mysuru’s tribal areas and Chamarajanagar have ID cards.
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