Due to the simmering debate about the digital divide and the inability to book vaccine slots online, the government has now opened vaccinations without prior booking. Online registration is not mandatory for Covid-19 vaccination, the Union Health Ministry said on Tuesday. Any adult can go to the nearest vaccination centre, register at the spot and receive the vaccine, it added.
The statement, issued by PIB, went on to say that CoWIN platform is just one of the many modes of registration for vaccinations apart from walk-ins. The online waiver will be extremely conducive in tribal areas, where people have no access to mobile phones and the internet; now, they can walk into their nearest centre and get vaccinated.
The health ministry also said that the per million vaccination data is far better in rural and tribal areas than that in urban, which is a good sign, keeping in mind the digital divide.
In fact, vaccination coverage (per million population) in as many as 128 of the total 176 tribal districts is higher than the national average.
Gender ratio among vaccine beneficiaries is also better in tribal districts, the Health Ministry said.
