CoWin Registration Not Mandatory, Anyone Aged 18+ Can Walk-in For Vaccination: Health Ministry

The ministry said anyone, aged 18 years or more, can directly go to the nearest vaccination center where vaccinator performs the on-site registration and provides vaccination in the same visit.

Vaccination Drive in India

New Delhi: In what comes as a major relief for the people amid the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday said pre-registration for vaccination through online registration and prior booking of appointment is not mandatory to avail vaccination services.

The ministry said anyone, aged 18 years or more, can directly go to the nearest vaccination center where vaccinator performs the on-site registration and provides vaccination in the same visit.

“This is also popularly known as “walk-ins”,” the ministry added.

Stating the facilitated registration through the Common Service Centers (CSCs) on Co-WIN is just one of the many modes of registration on Co-WIN, the Health Ministry further said the facilitators such as health workers or ASHAs, also mobilize beneficiaries in rural areas and those residing in urban slums, for on-site registration and vaccination directly at the nearest vaccination centers.

The ministry added the facility for assisted registrations through the 1075 Help Line has also been operationalized.

“That, all the above modes, specifically operationalised for rural areas, are functional and enabling equitable access to vaccination in rural areas, is evident from the fact that, as of 13.06.2021, out of the 28.36 crore beneficiaries registered on Co-WIN, 16.45 crore (58%) beneficiaries have been registered in the on-site mode,” the ministry said.

The ministry informed that out of the total 24.84 crore vaccine doses recorded on Co-WIN as on June 13, 19.84 crore doses (nearly 80 percent of all vaccine doses) had been administered through walk-in vaccination.