Online Registration or Appointment No Longer Mandatory to Avail COVID-19 Vaccine

NEW DELHI: Now anyone aged above 18 years or more can directly go to the nearest vaccination center where the vaccinator administers the vaccine in the same visit.

The Government of India (GOI) has announced that pre-registration or prior booking of appointment is no longer required to avail of the COVID-19 vaccination services.

Notably, the announcement came after many people in rural areas reportedly faced problems in getting vaccinated because of internet connectivity.

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 called the "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 mobilizing 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 operationalized, it added.

Meanwhile, the Assam State Health Minister Keshab Mahanta informed that the state has received 71,950 doses of Covaxin today for the age group 18-44 years.

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.

The coverage of vaccination in the tribal area – as per the data available on Co-WIN as of 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 the National average.

> The gender ratio for people vaccinated is also better in the tribal districts.

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