BENGALURU: The high court on Wednesday asked the state government to make its stand clear on whether it is willing to pass an order restraining private hospitals from administering the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine. Given the shortage of vaccines in Karnataka, the first dose is being administered only to healthcare and frontline workers on priority as a large number of people are awaiting their second dose. The state government has issued an advisory to private and public facilities to give preference to administration of the second dose. A special division bench comprising Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka and Justice Aravind Kumar asked the advocate-general to look into the matter after Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (Phana) informed the court that they are giving the vaccine to all those who are registering on their portal. The court was also informed by the central government that 16,66,000 doses have been given to private hospitals in Karnataka. The court wondered how private hospitals can be allowed to procure more vaccines than the state government, which has placed orders for 15,98,000 doses. The bench said both the state and central governments have to take a policy decision on “diverting” people to private hospitals for getting the first dose. Issue order on vax dose, govt toldPhana said the state government can regulate the situation by passing an order against administering of the first dose, instead of issuing an advisory, as has been done now. The high court has repeatedly stressed that it is an “obligation” of governments to ensure the second dose is provided and failure to do so will be a violation of fundamental rights. The court was told that there is a huge demand for vaccines in private hospitals.