PM Modi Leads From The Front, Gets Vaccinated In AIIMS As India Begins Second Phase Of Its Covid-19 Vaccination Drive

Leading from the front, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (1 March) got vaccinated against Covid-19 at the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) as India started the second phase of Covid vaccination drive.

PM Modi took to twitter to inform that he had received the first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine at AIIMS.

"Took my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at AIIMS. Remarkable how our doctors and scientists have worked in quick time to strengthen the global fight against COVID-19," PM Modi said in a tweet.

He further appealed to all those who are eligible for vaccination to take the vaccine and contribute in making India Covid-free.

"I appeal to all those who are eligible to take the vaccine. Together, let us make India COVID-19 free!" he added.

It should be noted that the second phase of the Covid vaccination drive, which includes the persons above 60 years of age and those over 45 with comorbidities, is beginning in India from today (1 March).

The registration for the vaccination process will open at 9.00 am today at www.cowin.gov.in.

"Citizens will be able to register and book and appointment for vaccination, anytime and anywhere, using the COWIN 2.0 portal or through other IT applications such as Arogya Setu etc." a Ministry of Health statement said on Sunday (28 February).

This information was shared during the 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 statement said.

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 immunization (AEFI) through video conference with the support of the National Health Authority (NHA), it added.

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 3:00 pm on that day for which the slots were opened. For example, for 1 March the slots will be open from 9:00 am till 3:00 pm, and the appointments can be booked anytime before that, subject to availability.

However, on 1 March 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 first 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–

1. Aadhar Card/Letter

2. Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC)

3. Passport

4. Driving License

5. PAN Card

6. NPR Smart Card

7. Pension Document with photograph

It was also explained that the Central Government shall procure all the vaccines 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), the statement said.

It was re-iterated that all vaccines 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), the statement said.

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 has supplied two COVID-19 vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin, free of cost to the States/UTs to vaccinateHealth 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, the health ministry said in the statement.

The States have been requested to operationalize the linkages between the COVID-19 Vaccination Centres (CVCs) (both government & private empanelled facilities) with the nearest cold chain points for ensuring smooth vaccine delivery to COVID Vaccination Centres (CVCs).