There have been some media reports alleging that homeless people have been ‘barred and conspicuously left out’’ from registering for COVID-19 vaccination due to the unavailability of technical requirements. The reports have further stated ‘requirement to register digitally’, ‘knowledge of English and access to a computer or a smartphone connected to the internet as some of the factors depriving people of vaccination.
These claims are baseless and not based on facts. It is clarified that:
- Ownership of a mobile phone is not a prerequisite for Covid vaccination.
- Production of address proof for availing vaccination is also not mandatory.
- It is not mandatory to pre-register online on Co-WIN for availing of vaccination.
- For easy understanding of users, Co-Win is now available in 12 languages. These include Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Marathi, Gujarati, Odia, Bengali, Assamese, Gurumukhi (Punjabi), and English.
The co-WIN platform is an inclusive IT system that provides a flexible framework with all the necessary features to facilitate coverage in the remotest parts of the country as well as for those who are most vulnerable. While one of the nine identity cards including Aadhar, Elector Photo Identity Card, Ration Card with Photo, Disability I.D. Card etc. is required for availing of vaccination, special provisions have been made by the Government of India for organizing vaccination sessions for those who may not have any of the nine specified identity cards or own a mobile phone.
Taking full benefit of such provisions, more than 2 lakh such beneficiaries have been vaccinated, so far. Near-to-home vaccination center services for the elderly and persons with disabilities are also being provided. The government of India has issued an advisory for Near-to-Home vaccination center services for the elderly and persons with disabilities on 27th May 2021.
For those who may not have access to the internet or smartphones or even to the mobile phone, free of cost on-site registration (also popularly called Walk-In) and vaccination is available at all government vaccination centers. 80% of all vaccine doses have so far been administered in an on-site vaccination mode. In on-site (or walk-in) vaccination, all the data recording for registration, vaccination, and generation of vaccination certificates is done by the vaccination, and the beneficiary himself/herself is only required to provide the basic minimum necessary information.
Furthermore, COVID-19 vaccination coverage is found to be better in tribal districts than the national averages. Data also shows that more than 70% of vaccination centers are located in rural areas including more than 26,000 at the Primary Health Centres and 26000 at the sub-health centers.
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