Dispelling rumours of a glitch in the Co-WIN platform, the Union Health Ministry on Monday clarified that the Co-WIN app is “only for administrators” and that people who want to book an appointment for Covid-19 vaccination should visit the Co-WIN website instead.
Empowered Group on Vaccine Administration chairman R.S. Sharma said that the confusion was created by spreading misinformation that vaccination registration is being done through the mobile application.
The Co-WIN platform has been created to track the delivery, distribution and utilisation of the Covid-19 vaccine in real time.
Speaking to ANI, Sharma said, “There has been no glitch right from the start. What happened was that some people spread misinformation that there is a Co-WIN app. So, people started searching for the app which is not ours. That is why there was some confusion among the people. After clarifying there is no Co-WIN app, we have given an extension in Aarogya Setu app for registration and provided a portal ‘cowin.gov.in’.”
Reassuring that the Co-WIN portal is functioning without any issues, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said, “There are many people in the country who can’t access or face difficulties in booking. All these systems will be streamlined within one week. As of now, there is no issue with the Co-WIN portal.”
The second phase of the nationwide vaccination drive against the coronavirus disease started on Monday. This phase is directed at senior citizens and people over the age of 45 with co-morbidities. Since morning, 17 lakh people had registered on the Co-WIN portal to receive the vaccine.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine on Monday too. He visited the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) early in the morning to take his first dose and appeal to everyone eligible to get themselves inoculated.
RS Sharma also hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for receiving the jab, adding that this will send a strong message and reduce vaccine hesitancy among people. “Vaccine hesitancy is a social perspective. But today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the jab on the first day itself is a big message and people will be encouraged for taking the vaccine. Gradually, it will end the vaccine hesitancy,” he said.
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik also received their shots.
The Empowered Group chairman further said, “We have given the instruction to all, whether private or public, that as soon as a vaccination is completed, a certificate must be given to the person on the spot. That certificate will also be made available digitally as well on Aarogya Setu.”
Dispelling rumours of a glitch in the Co-WIN platform, the Union Health Ministry on Monday clarified that the Co-WIN app is “only for administrators” and that people who want to book an appointment for Covid-19 vaccination should visit the Co-WIN website instead.
Empowered Group on Vaccine Administration chairman R.S. Sharma said that the confusion was created by spreading misinformation that vaccination registration is being done through the mobile application.
The Co-WIN platform has been created to track the delivery, distribution and utilisation of the Covid-19 vaccine in real time.
Speaking to ANI, Sharma said, “There has been no glitch right from the start. What happened was that some people spread misinformation that there is a Co-WIN app. So, people started searching for the app which is not ours. That is why there was some confusion among the people. After clarifying there is no Co-WIN app, we have given an extension in Aarogya Setu app for registration and provided a portal ‘cowin.gov.in’.”
Reassuring that the Co-WIN portal is functioning without any issues, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan said, “There are many people in the country who can’t access or face difficulties in booking. All these systems will be streamlined within one week. As of now, there is no issue with the Co-WIN portal.”
The second phase of the nationwide vaccination drive against the coronavirus disease started on Monday. This phase is directed at senior citizens and people over the age of 45 with co-morbidities. Since morning, 17 lakh people had registered on the Co-WIN portal to receive the vaccine.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi received the first shot of the Covid-19 vaccine on Monday too. He visited the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) early in the morning to take his first dose and appeal to everyone eligible to get themselves inoculated.
RS Sharma also hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for receiving the jab, adding that this will send a strong message and reduce vaccine hesitancy among people. “Vaccine hesitancy is a social perspective. But today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the jab on the first day itself is a big message and people will be encouraged for taking the vaccine. Gradually, it will end the vaccine hesitancy,” he said.
Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, Bihar CM Nitish Kumar and Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik also received their shots.
The Empowered Group chairman further said, “We have given the instruction to all, whether private or public, that as soon as a vaccination is completed, a certificate must be given to the person on the spot. That certificate will also be made available digitally as well on Aarogya Setu.”
“They can download the link and get it printed as well. This will be a digitally signed certificate. After every vaccination, a certificate will be issued. After first vaccination, a provisional certificate will be provided and a final certificate will be issued after the second dose,” he added.
Those who could not attend the scheduled vaccination drive can reschedule, cancel, or take a reappointment for the same.
Meanwhile Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan pointed out that in the next few days the “walk-in system” for people will be further streamlined in states to ensure smooth functioning. “We have given some relaxation to state governments. In the next few days, the walk-in system will be streamlined, a provision is in place for this. A certain number of people can go to the centres after taking appointments through booking,” he said.
Citizens can register for vaccination using the Co-WIN portal with their mobile number. Features for adding beneficiaries, editing details and booking appointment(s) will be available in the citizen’s account. The records would be locked and will not be valid for editing/deleting details once the person gets vaccinated. Documents like Aadhaar card, electoral photo identity card, passport, driving license, PAN card, NPR smart card or pension document with a photograph can be used for online registration.
Sharma also said that digital and paperless authentication is possible only through the Aadhaar Card. If a person brings Aadhaar, he or she does not need to bring a hard copy of documents. In case of driving license, passport and other ID proofs, a photograph of the document will be taken along with a photo of the person.
Responding to questions about data privacy and safety, he said, “Data privacy is also important for us and it is a fundamental right. We are just asking for name, gender and age related data. It is not extremely sensitive data. This is important for us so that a person who gets a particular vaccine should get the same vaccine in the second dose as well. Whatever data we have is safe.”