In a significant digital move, India will share its CoWIN tech with the world at the app’s virtual Global Conclave, which will be inaugurated by Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Monday. During the CoWIN Global Conclave scheduled for 3pm, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will speak about the digital platform.
About 50 countries are reportedly interested in the CoWIN app for their vaccination drive. Canada, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama and Uganda are among the countries willing to adopt the technology behind the app.
“India is ready to share the open-source software for free, Dr R S Sharma, the CEO of the National Health Authority (NHA),” told The Economic Times.
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After Co-WIN was operationalised on January 16, it has scaled rapidly amidst multiple policy changes and developments. After the launch of its third version, Co-WIN had already witnessed over 20 crore registrations by early May.
Recently, the Chairman of Empowered Group on Technology and Data Management to combat Covid-19 and member, National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration of Covid-19, RS Sharma, had slammed concerns of privacy on CoWIN app and said that the data was protected and safe in the app.
What is India’s CoWIN app
Co-WIN, launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the first phase of the world’s largest vaccination drive, is an modified version of the government’s Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network, built to be a cloud-based IT solution for planning, coordinating the giant inoculation process and retrieve the real-time data on it.
For booking a vaccination slot, people can download the CoWIN app and register themselves on the portal. After an individual gets inoculated, a certificate assuring that he/she has been successfully vaccinated is also issued on the app.
Registration and booking of vaccination slots
For Co-Win, there is a mobile application, as well as, a website for beneficiaries and officials involved in the vaccination process. On Co-Win, one can book a vaccination slot by registering with their mobile number. Prior registration on Cowin.gov.in is no longer required, however registration on this site is required to keep track of all vaccinations.
Book COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments on Paytm
The vaccination slot booking feature on Paytm adds to the app’s vaccine finder service that helps users find slots for getting the COVID-19 vaccine. Paytm users can search, discover, and also book their vaccination slots for both Covaxin and Covishield at the nearest center through the Paytm app.
Download a certificate
One can download the vaccination certificate following immunisation from one’s Co-Win account, which will become a crucial travel document in the coming days. The Ministry of External Affairs expects that the Co-Win certificate will be recognised as genuine proof of immunisation by other countries.
Certificate editing
Any inaccuracy in the vaccine certificate can now be edited using the platform.
Fill in the passport information on the certificate.
To make it easier for Indians wanting to travel overseas, the portal now allows users to link their passport to their Covid-19 immunisation certificate.
Combine the certificates
Beneficiaries who received two doses enrolling from two different phone lines and two different certificates can now combine the two certificates.
Controversies over CoWIN
Digital divide
Amid criticism of a digital divide hampering citizens’ vaccination, the Supreme Court had flagged that a “vaccination policy exclusively relying on digital portal Co-WIN for inoculating those aged between 18 to 44 years would be unable to meet its target of universal immunisation due to “digital divide” and marginalised sections of society would bear the brunt of “accessibility barrier”.
In its reply to the apex court, the government had in its reply on June 26 said that online registration, prior self-registration and booking of appointment on Co-WIN was also not mandatory to avail vaccination services.
The affidavit said if a person having no access to either internet or digital devices or does not wish to self-register wants to be vaccinated, he or she can visit the nearest vaccination centre where a health worker would register him in the device of the respective centre on the Co-WIN platform and the person would be vaccinated. It said that all the necessary features to ensure that every eligible individual has access to vaccination, regardless of any of physical, digital or socio-economic barriers to access, have been incorporated in Co-WIN.
Privacy concerns
Amid concerns of privacy of user data being shared on the Co-WIN platform, Former TRAI Chairman RS Sharma, Chairman of Empowered Group on Technology and Data Management to combat Covid-19 and member, National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration of Covid-19, slammed concerns on CoWIN app and said that the data was protected and safe in the app.
In an interview to the Hindu Business Line in January this year, Sharma said: “What is the private information the government has for vaccination? Don’t you think government should have the information about whether you will be vaccinated or not? Now, if you register yourself saying I am so and so and give details is that violation of privacy?”
“I think some people are obsessed with this whole concept of privacy. If you are taking a train and at the station, you find a paper which is pasted on the compartment that gives PNR number, the name of the person, the gender and the age. And, some people say ‘oh, why there is no privacy?’ There is a limit to the argument on privacy,” he had said, adding that the Data Protection and Privacy Law was in the making and the government would comply with that.
Reports of CoWIN being hacked
Reports of the Co-WIN platform being hacked emerged in June, after which the Centre clarified that these reports were fake, adding that the portal stores all the vaccination data in a safe and secure digital environment.
“There have been some unfounded media reports on the CoWIN platform being hacked. Prima facie, these reports appear to be fake,” a statement issued by the Union Health Ministry had said.
However, the ministry and the Empowered Group on Vaccine Administration (EGVAC) are getting the matter investigated by the Computer Emergency Response Team of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MietY), the statement added.
The news spread after a hacking organisation known as ‘Dark Leak Market’ claimed through Twitter that it possesses the database of nearly 15 crore Indians who have registered on the CoWIN portal, and that it is reselling the data for $800 because it is not among the “original leakers.”
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