Online registration not mandatory for anyone above 18 to avail COVID-19 vaccine dose: Govt

KEY STORY

• The Central government on Tuesday announced that pre-registration or prior booking of appointment is not mandatory to avail the COVID-19 vaccination services. The clarification came after reports surrfaced that many people in rural areas have been facing problems in getting vaccinated.

• The government further said that anyone aged above 18 years or more can directly go to the nearest vaccination center where the vaccinator performs the on-site registration and administers the vaccine in the same visit.

• This procedure is normally called ‘walk in’.

• The Centre went on to explain that the facilitated registration through the Common Service Centers (CSCs) on Co-WIN, is just one of the many modes of registration on Co-WIN.

• The facilitators such as health workers or ASHAs, have been mobilising beneficiaries in rural areas and those residing in urban slums, for on-site registration and vaccination directly at the nearest vaccination centers. The facility for assisted registrations through the 1075 Help Line has also been operationalised, it added.

• The authorities noted that all the above modes, specifically operationalised for rural areas, are functional and enabling equitable access to vaccination in rural areas.

• This is evident from the fact that, as on June 13, out of the 28.36 crore beneficiaries registered on Co-WIN, 16.45 crore (58%) beneficiaries have been registered in the on-site mode. Also, out of the total 24.84 crore vaccine doses recorded on Co-WIN as on June 13, 2021, 19.84 crore doses (nearly 80% of all vaccine doses) have been administered through onsite/walk-in vaccination.

• According to the Health Ministry, out of the total 69,995 vaccination centers so far classified by states on Co-WIN as rural or urban, 49,883 vaccination centers, i.e. 71%, are located in rural areas.

CONCLUSION

• The coverage of vaccination in tribal area – as per the data available on Co-WIN as on June 3, 2021:

  • Vaccination per million population in tribal districts is higher than the National average.
  • 128 out of 176 Tribal Districts are performing better than all India vaccination coverage.
  • More walk-in vaccinations are happening in Tribal Districts as compared to National average.
  • Gender ratio for people vaccinated is also better in the tribal districts.