CoWIN to now offer vaccine choice on its portal

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The health ministry has reportedly announced that the CoWIN portal will display the types of anti-coronavirus vaccine and their prices for citizens from May 1. This step is initiated so that citizens can make an informed choice at the time of booking an appointment at a private vaccination center. The registration of citizens in the 18-44 age group will start on the CoWIN portal from April 28.

In a letter to states and UTs, Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary, stated that each private CVC must declare on CoWIN, the vaccine type(s), the stocks of vaccines, and the prices decided by it to be charged from the citizens, for vaccination services being offered from May 1.

“The vaccine types and their prices will be displayed in the appointments module on COWIN so that the citizens can make an informed choice at the time of booking a vaccination appointment,” the health secretary stated. All vaccination slots at private CVCs will continue to be offered only for online appointments from CoWIN or Arogya Setu. On-site registration/appointments will be allowed only if any doses are left in the last opened vial(s) to minimize vaccine wastage, the letter stated.

As per the letter, the CoWIN system shall provide the feature to states and UTs for setting the minimum age cut-off value for a state and Union Territory. In such cases, the government CVCs will be visible to eligible beneficiaries for booking an online appointment based on validation on the minimum cut off age defined by the respective state/UT government.