Covid-19 vaccines are not mandatory, not even for children, the Centre told the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

The bench of Justices L. Nageswara Rao and B.R. Gavai, however, asked additional solicitor-general Aishwarya Bhati to come out with details to rebut allegations that vaccines were being administered forcibly to people, including schoolchildren.

The bench issued the directive at the end of daylong arguments by counsel Prashant Bhushan on behalf of petitioner Jacob Puliyel, a Delhi-based paediatrician.

Bhushan alleged that some states had made vaccination mandatory for access to public utilities and benefits.

The ASG said no decision had been taken to make vaccination mandatory.

However, the bench said it wanted the government to address the issue of vaccines being allegedly thrust upon people, including children.