Prioritising vaccination of expecting mothers: HC asks govt to finalise decision in 72 hours

The High Court today asked the government to finalise its decision about providing Covid-19 vaccine to expecting mothers on priority basis and to announce it in 72 hours.

The court ordered Attorney General AM Amin Uddin to communicate to the authorities concerned of the government so that they finalise the decision and announce it in 72 hours, as Health Minister Zahid Maleque reportedly said the government will take steps for providing Covid-19 vaccines to expecting mothers.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim asked the attorney general verbally during hearing on a writ petition that sought HC directive on the government to provide Covid-19 vaccine to expecting mothers on priority basis.

The bench, however, refused to deliver any directive on the writ petition, saying that the government is considering the issue.

The HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim, however, kept the petition "stand over" (waiting for hearing), and said that order will be passed on the matter, if it is necessary, later on.

During hearing on the petition, the HC bench said the authorities concerned of the government, including the National Technical Advisory Committee (NTAC) and the National Immunisation Technical Advisory Group (NITAG), are reportedly considering and working on the issue.

Justice M Enayetur Rahim read out some part of a report published on The Daily Star on August 1 regarding vaccinating pregnant women under the headline -- "Covid-19 Vaccine: A costly dilemma over pregnant women?"

Four Supreme Court lawyers including Mohammad Humayun Kabir Pallab collectively submitted the writ petition to the HC on Saturday seeking its directive on the government to provide Covid-19 vaccine to expecting mothers on priority basis to protect their health.

They said in the petition that for expecting mothers, receiving vaccines is a constitutional right, but this issue has not been included in the government's Surokkha App, the vaccine registration app.

Earlier on May 31 last year, the HC bench of Justice M Enayetur Rahim following a writ petition directed the authorities concerned to conduct necessary tests including that for Covid-19 and provide treatments to expecting women on priority basis at all government and private hospitals across the country.