Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : The next phase of the world’s largest vaccination drive against Covid-19 for the age appropriate population groups will commence from March 1, 2021. Registration will open at 9 am on March 1, 2021 (at www.cowin.gov.in). Citizens will be able to register and book an appointment for vaccination, anytime and anywhere, using the COWIN 2.0 portal or through other IT applications such as Arogya Setu etc.
This information was shared during an orientation workshop organised by the Union Health Ministry and the National Health Authority (NHA) for the 10,000 private hospitals under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY, more than 600 hospitals empanelled under CGHS, and other private hospitals empanelled under State Government’s Health Insurance Schemes, on Co-WIN2.0.
The modalities of the new features integrated in the CoWIN2.0 digital platform were explained to them.The private empanelled COVID Vaccination Centers (CVCs) were also trained on various aspects of the process of vaccination and management of adverse events following immunisation (AEFI) through video conference with the support of the National Health Authority (NHA), according to a PIB release.
The participants were explained that all citizens that are aged, or attained the age of, 60 years or more as on January 1, 2022, are eligible to register, in addition to all such citizens that are aged, or will attain the age of, 45 years to 59 years as on January 1, 2022, and have any of the specified 20 comorbidities.
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 will be closed at 3 pm on that day for which the slots were opened. For example, for March 1, the slots will be open from 9 am and continue till 3 pm on March 1, and the appointments can be booked anytime before that, subject to availability.
However, on March 1, an appointment can also be booked for any future date for which vaccination slots are available. A slot for second dose will also be booked at the same COVID Vaccination Center on 29th day of the date of appointment of the 1st dose. If a beneficiary cancels a first dose appointment, then appointment of both doses will be cancelled.
The eligible persons will be able to register at the Co-WIN2.0 portal through their mobile number, through a step by step process. With one mobile number, a person can register as many as four beneficiaries. However, all those registered on one mobile number will have nothing in common except the mobile number.
The Photo ID Card Number for each such beneficiary must be different. Either of the following Photo Identity Documents can be used by citizens for availing of online registration–
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- Aadhar Card/Letter
- Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC)
- Passport
- Driving License
- PAN Card
- NPR Smart Card
- Pension Document with photograph
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A list of all these private hospitals has been uploaded on the website of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and National Health Authority. These can be accessed at:
a) https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/CGHSEmphospitals.xlsx
b) https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/PMJAYPRIVATEHOSPITALSCONSOLIDATED.xlsx
It was also explained that the Central Government shall procure all the vaccine and supply them free of cost to the States and UTs who in turn will disburse them further to the Government and Private COVID Vaccination Centres (CVCs). It was re-iterated that all vaccine provided to beneficiaries at the Government Health Facilities will be entirely free of cost, while Private Facilities cannot charge the beneficiary a sum above Rs 250 per person per dose (Rs 150 for vaccines and Rs 100 as operational charges). Private Hospitals are to remit the cost of vaccine doses allotted to them in a designated account of National Health Authority (NHA). Payment gateway for the same is being enabled by NHA on their website.
The Government of India has supplied two COVID-19 vaccines, Covishield & Covaxin, free of cost to the States/UTs to vaccinate Health Care Workers (HCWs) and Front Line Workers (FLWs) and will also be able to cover the next priority group i.e. 60 years plus age group and the age group of 45 to 59 years suffering from Pre-Specified Co-Morbidities.