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Centre allows walk-ins for 18-44 years at Govt Vaccine Centres; Here's all you need to know

The Centre has left the decision to allow on-site CoWIN registration - for either reason - to individual state/UT governments. These decisions can be based on "local context", the notification stated.

Centre allows walk-ins for 18-44 years at Govt Vaccine Centres; Here's all you need to know
SHARES

The Centre on Monday, May 24, said that it will now allow on-site, or walk-in, registration for the 18-44 age group at government COVID-19 vaccination centres.

It issued a notification stating that people in the 18-44 age group -- who are "without access to internet or smart phones" - can walk-in for help to register on the CoWIN digital platform, and get appointments to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

This development came three weeks after it rolled out vaccination for the 18-44 age group, where slots could be booked only through online appointment on CoWIN. The coverage of vaccination was expanded to people in the age group of 18 to 44 years on May 1, 2021.

However, with several states were forced to shut down vaccination sites or operate a limited number of vaccination centres due to unavailability and shortage of vials, the Centre’s decision to allow walk-ins is likely to have a limited impact.

Also Read: COVID-19 vaccines cannot be mixed and matched anytime soon: VK Paul

The government also said it will allow same-day walk-in registration and vaccination of "a few beneficiaries" in the 18-44 group, if doses meant for those who had pre-registered were left unused at the end of the day. This will minimise vaccine wastage.

Though it is unclear how people will be able to identify which centres have unused doses at the end of the day, leading to concerns there may be long queues outside vaccination centres as people wait for doses.

The Centre has left the decision to allow on-site CoWIN registration - for either reason - to individual state/UT governments. These decisions can be based on "local context", the notification stated.

Meanwhile, the government also mentioned that if the state/UT governments decide to allow this, it can only be made available at government-run vaccination centres and not those run by private hospitals.

The Union Health Ministry has further advised states and union territories that abundant caution should be exercised and extreme due care should be taken while opening up on-site registration and appointment for 18-44 years age group, in order to avoid overcrowding at vaccination centres.

According to data from the Health Ministry, 19.6 crore doses have been administered so far.

Also Read: Mumbai: PIL seeking separate vaccine booking portal filed in Bombay HC

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