India begins second vaccination round for 60+ and 45+ with co-morbidities, online registration open

Starting from March 1, India’s second round of vaccination is beginning against Covid-19 for people over 60 years of age and for people over 45 years with co-morbidities. This will be the first time that vaccination would be open to the general population after vaccine roll out in India began on January 16 for health care and frontline workers. In this first phase, around 1.43 crore doses of Covishield and Covaxin were administered to these two priority groups. 

At present India is having the Covid-19 cases surge under control. But eight states have been a reason of concern who are recording spike in daily cases. These are Maharashtra, Kerala, West Bengal, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Jammu & Kashmir. 

On Sunday, guidelines around the vaccination drive were laid out to the states. All the states and UTs would be supplied with both Covishield and Covaxin vaccines that would be administered at both government and private facilities. The vaccine name being given would however not be disclosed to the individual at time of vaccination. 

Slots would be open from 9 am to 3 pm and appointments can be booked subject to availability. Furthermore, one mobile number can be used to register up to 4 beneficiaries. Centre’s guidelines noted, “However, all those registered on one mobile number will have nothing in common except the mobile number. The ID Card Number for each such beneficiary must be different.” 

Registrations can be made using the Co-WIN app and Aarogya Setu app. Beneficiaries will be able to edit or delete their registration records up to the time of vaccination. 

At the time of the first vaccination, a second dose appointment would be given for the 29th day. A beneficiary can change the second dose appointment for the date between the 29th and 42nd day from the first dose. If the first dose appointment is cancelled, both dose appointments would be cancelled.