New Delhi: It has been alleged in some media reports that homeless people have been ‘prevented and conspicuously left out’ from registering for COVID-19 vaccination due to the non-availability of technical requirements. These reports further said That ‘requirement to register digitally’, ‘knowledge of English and access to a computer or internet-connected smart phone’ are some of the factors that deprive people of vaccination.
These claims are baseless and not based on facts. It is clarified that:
Owning a mobile phone is not a ground for COVID vaccination.
Proof of address is also not mandatory to be submitted to take advantage of vaccination.
It is not mandatory to pre-register online on Co-Win to avail vaccination benefits.
Co-Win is now available in 12 languages for easy-to-understand users. These include Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Odia, Bengali, Assamese, Gurmukhi (Punjabi) and English.
The Co-Vin platform is an inclusive IT system that provides a flexible framework with all necessary facilities to facilitate coverage for the most vulnerable as well as the most remote areas of the country. One of the nine identity cards is required, including photo identity card, ration card with photo and disability identity card etc. The Government of India has made special provisions for conducting immunization sessions for those who do not have or who do not have the nine specified identity cards. Don’t have mobile phone.
Taking full advantage of these provisions, more than 2 lakh such beneficiaries have been vaccinated so far. Immunization services were also provided for elderly and differently abled persons near their homes. and has issued an advisory for vaccination center services near home for persons with disabilities.
For those who do not have access to the Internet or smart phones or even mobile phones, free on-site registration (popularly also called walk-in) and vaccination is available at all government immunization centres. Now Up to 80 percent of vaccine doses given are given in on-site vaccination mode. On-site (or walk-in) vaccination is done by vaccinators to record all information for registration, vaccination and issuance of vaccination certificates. and the beneficiary needs to provide only the basic minimum required information.
Further, the COVID-19 vaccination coverage has been found to be better in tribal districts as compared to the national average. The data also shows that more than 70 per cent immunization centers are located in rural areas, with more than 26,000 primary health centers and over 26,000 sub-districts. in health centers.