Registration limit on CoWin App disappoints thousands of vaccine aspirants

Aurangabad, May 11:

The registration of citizens of age 18 to 45 years for the first dose of vaccine on Cowin App is receiving an overwhelming response. The registration is open on the eve of the vaccination day at 8.30 pm.

There are six centres started by Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and each centre administers vaccine to 200 persons. Hence within few minutes, the app blocks the registration after 200. The booking of each centre is opened on a gap of five to 10 minutes. Meanwhile, thousands of vaccine aspirants expressed their disappointment and grieve that they could not register their names as they are not techno-savvy or affiliated with the operations of any kind of mobile apps.

Acting upon the orders of the Central Government, the AMC started the drive for the above age group from May 1. There are six centres where the vaccine (mostly Covishield) is given from 10 am to 4 pm. The AMC has already declared that the vaccine will be given only to those persons receiving SMS after registration. The others should not rush or create obstructions at the centre. It is learnt that the registration of 200 persons finishes in a few seconds. Hence the newspaper came across many persons, who are trying for their registration for the last many days or couple of evenings.

The estimated population of the above age group in the city is around 4.50 lakh, but the AMC could administer the vaccine to 5,656 persons only, so far. The percentage of vaccination in the city is 1.26 pc.

Registration as per government norms: AMC

The municipal officer of health (MoH) Dr Neeta Padalkar said, " The registration is done as per the government's fixed parameters and norms. The App is designed by the Central Government. The vaccination to citizens of age 45 years and above is done as per the supply of the vaccine. Accordingly, the centres and their numbers are fixed. The AMC had administered the vaccine to 2.66 lakh (all age group) persons, so far."

Reactions of aspirants

According to Raju Tupe (of Harsul), he was struggling for registration on the App for the past 8-10 days. The registration of each centre ends in few seconds. The government should not block the registration, instead, it should allot the dates for vaccination after one week or 10 days.

Many of them deprived of android-based phone and also do not know the process of registration. Indeed it is a tedious task for these non-techno persons, said Ameya Diwakar Deshmukh (N-8 Cidco).

The vaccination for the above age group could be made in phases. There is no harm in releasing a token after on the spot registration. The daily registration target should be in thousands. Besides, the government should ensure that the vaccine is supplied regularly as per the demand, stressed Sagar Pale (Hudco).