Centre Closes Covid Vaccine Registration For Healthcare & Frontline Workers, Here's The Reason

The Covid-19 vaccine registration for healthcare and frontline workers has been closed after about a 24 percent spike in registration was witnessed under these categories.

New Delhi: The Central government announced that healthcare and frontline workers will no longer be registered for Covid-19 vaccination, after about 24 percent spike in registration was observed under these categories in the last few days.

The decision has been taken after reports of fake registration under these categories surfaced.

In a letter to states and union territories, Health Ministry Secretary Rajesh Bhushan stated that some ineligible beneficiaries are being registered as healthcare and frontline workers for getting vaccinated in violation of centre’s guidelines.

He informed that there has been a 24 percent rise in the healthcare workers’ database in the past few days.

"...it has been decided that no fresh registrations in categories of HCWs and FLWS will be allowed with immediate effect. Registrations of persons aged 45 years and above will continue to be permitted on Co-WIN portal."

"I request you to kindly direct the concerned officials for wider dissemination of this policy decision for compliance. However, universal vaccination of already registered HCWs and FLWs should be ensured at the earliest," the Health Secretary stated in the letter.

In India, 7.44 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered since the drive began on January 16 after emergency approval for 'Covishield' and 'Covaxin'.

When the drive began, the first category of priority group involved healthcare workers and frontline workers for protecting them.

Vaccination began for healthcare workers on January 16, followed by inoculation for frontline workers from February 2. Then persons aged 60 years and above and those aged 45-59 years with comorbidities were included in the drive from March 1.

From April 1, all persons aged 45 years and above are eligible for the Covid vaccination.

More than 36.7 lakh COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours, the highest single-day coverage till now, the Union Health Ministry said on Friday.

33,65,597 beneficiaries were vaccinated across 51,215 sessions for the first dose and 3,05,645 beneficiaries received the second dose of Coronavirus vaccine, the Health Ministry stated on Friday. The ministry said the total of 36,71,242 vaccine doses administered on the day is the highest single-day vaccine coverage till now.