New Delhi: India is all set to kick start the largest phase of vaccination (third phase) drive against novel coronavirus which will range out to around 27 crore of population aged above 60 or above 45 with co-morbid conditions.
Two COVID-19 vaccine candidates-- Covishield and COVAXIN will be used in the vaccination drive, whose 1,42,42,547 doses have been administered so far, which includes over 70 per cent of the frontline workers. However, there’s a process required to receive the vaccine jabs. The government has given three methods for the registration of eligible beneficiaries—online, on-site and facilitated cohort registration.
The first is self-registration under which the people will be able to self-register in advance by downloading the CO-Win 2.0 portal and through other apps such as Arogya Setu.
HOW TO BOOK AN APPOINTMENT
The government recently updated the CoWIN which was being used in the initial two phases of the inoculation for immunisation of frontline workers. It was created for real-time monitoring of vaccine delivery. Eligible people can register themselves on the platform from Monday from 9 am. The platform can be accessed via web or through an app. Beneficiaries can register at the CO-WIN 2.0 portal through their mobile number following a step by step process.
After registration, the application will show list of government and private hospitals: Covid Vaccination Centres (CVC) with the date and time of the available schedules. The beneficiary would be able to choose the CVC of his/her choice and book an appointment.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED
The government has listed seven photo identity documents which can be used for online registration: Aadhaar Card/Letter, Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC), Passport, Driving License, PAN Card, NPR Smart Card and Pension Document with photograph. Meanwhile, the vaccination is being provided at 10,000 government medical facilities and over 20,000 private hospitals.
As per modalities released by the government, there will be only one live appointment for a beneficiary at any point of time for each dose. Appointments for any date for a Covid Vaccination Center (CVC) will be closed at 3 pm on that day for which the slots were opened.
The option for self-registration will not be limited to online channels as many may not be well-versed with using apps. Apart from the Co-WIN app, there will be registration windows open in hospitals. There will be no charge for registration.
ON-SITE REGISTRATION
Second is on-site registration. Facility of on-site registration allows those who cannot self-register in advance to walk into the identified CVC and get themselves registered there and then vaccinated.
COHORT REGISTRATION
Third, is facilitated cohort registration -- Under this mechanism, the State/UT governments will take a proactive lead. Specific date(s) for Covid vaccination will be decided where target groups of potential beneficiaries will be vaccinated.
While the people above 60 will only be required to verify their age through seven of the photo Identity cards, those above 45 and having co-morbidities will have to attest a proof of their underlying conditions.
The government has prepared a list of 20 co-morbidities, including diabetes and heart failure with hospital admission in the past one year, prioritised in the third phase of the Covid-19 vaccination drive. A simplified one-page certificate showing all the prioritised co-morbid conditions can be downloaded from the portal by the beneficiary which they would have to be signed by any registered medical practitioner. The certificate can either be uploaded on Co-WIN 2.0 by the beneficiary while self-registering or a hard copy can be carried by the beneficiary to the CVC.
CERTIFICATE TO BENEFICIARY
After vaccination, a certificate will be issued to the beneficiary—on portal to those who registered digitally—and physically to those who got registered on-site.
The second scheduled dose of vaccine will be given at the same facility where the beneficiaries would receive their first shots.
(With inputs from IANS)