Kerala high court asks if unvaccinated person spreads Covid-19 more than those vaccinated
The query was raised by justice PB Suresh Kumar while considering a petition filed by Lalu V, an employee of Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC)
Mahir Haneef
KOCHI: The Kerala high court on Wednesday asked the state government to inform whether an unvaccinated person would spread COVID-19 more than a vaccinated person.
The query was raised by justice PB Suresh Kumar while considering a petition filed by Lalu V, an employee of Kerala Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC), questioning the insistence for vaccination certificate or RT-PCR negative result to go to work.
It was contended by the petitioner that there is no scientific or empirical data to show that an unvaccinated person will transmit or be a threat to others and that he is not different from a vaccinated person when it comes to spreading the disease.
The court said the government should respond to this contention and inform the court whether the contention of the petitioner is correct.
If the argument is correct, the question of whether the petitioner should undergo an RT-PCR test every three days to attend work gains importance, the court said while adding that the court's orders would depend on the government's submission on the aspect.
Petitioner's counsel Ajit Joy had submitted that the petitioner has already taken several RT-PCR tests to attend office and it has become very difficult to continue taking the tests as each test costs more than Rs 500.
As he doubts the efficacy of vaccine and as even vaccinated persons are dying, he is unwilling to take vaccine, the counsel said while pointing out that vaccination is voluntary.
Consequences of not taking a vaccine cannot be arbitrary and should not affect his livelihood, the petitioner has contended.