Clash of generations over COVID-19 vaccine shortages
In a shocking statement, the Delhi High Court urged the government to give priority to younger people because 80-year-olds have already “lived their lives” and we must look to the future. For Fr de Sales, “Every life is gift” to be respected, and the court should be concerned “about the weakest of society”.
Mumbai (AsiaNews) – Hard hit by the pandemic, India is finally starting to see a decline in the death toll; however, the vaccination campaign is not making any progress.
According to the latest official data, 134,154 new cases were reported in the past 24 hours, a number much lower than the more than 300,000 daily cases reported just a few days ago. The death toll is still high (2,887 yesterday) but declining.
This trend is only partially the result of the government’s vaccination campaign, which is still too slow compared to what is needed. At present, about 221 million people have been vaccinated, around a sixth of the population.
Among people 60 and over, who top the Indian government’s priority list, only 43.7 per cent have been vaccinated since the campaign started four months ago.
The problem is the lack of vaccines. Only 2.5 million doses can be administered daily because of shortages.
The Modi government's decision to delegate vaccinations of those under 45 to individual Indian states and private health care providers is also creating tensions.
Such a policy has reduced access to vaccines for younger people and those who cannot pay for the drug out of their own pocket. This is especially worrisome since COVID-19 is raging in younger age groups.
Against this background, the Delhi High Court has publicly challenged the central government policy of giving priority to seniors who, in its view, have already “lived their lives”.
The Court questioned the government’s vaccination policy of not prioritising the younger population, noting that “it is the younger people who are the future of this country”. According to the justices, “The 80-year-olds aren’t going to carry this country forward.”
Father Savio de Sales, a priest in Mumbai and liturgist, reacted on social media expressing deep dismay over this view.
“Caring for older generations is our duty,” he told AsiaNews. The views expressed by the High Court are “disgusting”. According to the clergyman, “Every life is a gift”. Indeed, “Life is a continuum from the moment of conception till natural death.”
While acknowledging that “Ageism exists,” he suggests that “being kind and showing compassion is at least a step in the right direction.”
Speaking about seniors, Fr de Sales goes on to say that “we need to remember that we are going to be in their shoes one day. We must defend the value, dignity, and sacredness of each life, which can never be lost by incapacitating illness or old age” during this pandemic.
"Instead of making learned observations on COVID-19 vaccine policy, or availability and distribution strategies, the learned judges should make observations about the weakest of society, the very ones, whom society needs to cherish and safeguarded.”
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