Dry run for Covid-19 vaccine: States raise software, broadband issues

A day before the country starts the second nationwide dry run for the vaccine rollout, many states have raised software, connectivity and broadband issues. Several of them have asked the health ministry to upgrade the Co-Win platform, along with details of when and in what quantity the vaccine will be made available to them.

On Thursday, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan held a virtual meeting with the health ministers of all states on preparation and protocol for the Friday dry run.

Jammu and Kashmir asked the Centre to allow offline registrations and management of beneficiaries instead of the online Co-Win system. “We have a serious connectivity issue with most states in the 2G network… Since the whole exercise is driven by the Co-Win platform, this is a challenge,” Rajiv Bhatnagar, advisor to the lieutenant governor of Jammu-Kashmir, said.

Kerala’s Health Minister K K Shailaja asked the Union health ministry to provide a template for sample data collection for the elderly on the Co-Win app. And Telangana Health Minister Rajesh Tope reported that while they have conducted the first dry run successfully, the state is facing software problems in 14 districts, which is being sorted out with the Centre’s help.

Several states also sought updates from the Centre on starting vaccine registrations for those above aged over 50.

The second nationwide mock drill of the Covid-19 vaccination will be held at three session sites in 736 districts across 33 states and union territories.

Co-Win, repurposed from the e-VIN platform, will provide real-time information of vaccine stocks, their storage temperature and individualised tracking of beneficiaries. This platform is meant to assist the programme managers through automated session allocation for pre-registered beneficiaries, their verification and for generating a digital certificate upon successful completion of the vaccine schedule.