The Centre has developed a free mobile app CO-WIN so that the people can self-register for the Covid19 vaccine.
This was announced on Tuesday by Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan during a media briefing on the actions taken, preparedness and updates on COVID19 at National Media Centre, New Delhi.
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Speaking about the steps taken by the central government for rolling out COVID19 vaccine, Bhushan said, “When such a huge vaccination drive is taken up, it becomes necessary to have institutional mechanisms at the level of States, Districts and Blocks that will inspect and supervise the entire process.”
The health secretary briefed in detail about the government’s preparation for COVID vaccination drive.
Some vaccine candidates which are in different stages of trial may get licensed in the next few weeks, he further stated.
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India’s positive cases per million at 7,031 is still amongst the lowest in the world, while the figure of deaths per million at 102 is also amongst the lowest globally.
The Centre has undertaken preparatory activities for roll-out of COVID19 vaccine in collaboration with states/UTs.
“A new digital platform for COVID 19 Vaccination Delivery called ‘CO-WIN’ is being used for this purpose. This use-friendly mobile app for recording vaccine data is working as a beneficiary management platform having various modules,” the health ministry stated.
In the process of forming database of healthcare workers, which is in an advanced stage across all States/UTs, data is presently being uploaded on the Co-WIN mobile app.
Line-listing of prioritized population groups for COVID19 vaccination is going on.
“Every single Indian who needs to be vaccinated will be vaccinated,” the ministry said in its statement.
Prioritized population groups include about 1 crore healthcare workers in both government and private healthcare facilities, about 2 crore frontline workers (including personnel from state and central police department, armed forces, home guard, civil defence organizations, disaster management volunteers and municipal workers).
About 27 crore people are also in the prioritized age group, which includes those aged above 50 years & those with co-morbidities.
Strengthening of cold chain infrastructure is being undertaken.
Speaking about the Centre’s initiatives, Bhushan mentioned the Vaccine Task Force, which was constituted by the Union government on April 14, 2020, and is co-chaired by the principal scientific adviser to the Government of India and Member (Health), NITI Aayog.
With technical experts and representatives of relevant ministries as its members, it provides guidance for focused research on Corona vaccines and other related science and technology issues.
The National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for COVID-19 (NEGVAC) was also formed in last August to aid and provide guidance on i) prioritization of population groups, ii) procurement and inventory management, iii) vaccine selection, and iv) vaccine delivery and tracking mechanism.
Stating that vaccination efforts of India are guided by the principles which were laid down by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s address to the nation from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day this year, the health secretary informed about the current stage of the eight vaccine candidates in India.