This is an archive article published on February 24, 2021
Second round of Covid-19 vaccination: Do you qualify?
Covid-19 vaccination: The second phase will have a system of self-registration. The beneficiary will have to download the Co-win app 2.0, and register for vaccination.
The Centre on Wednesday (February 24) announced that the country will begin on March 1 the second phase of vaccination of the next priority group: persons above the age of 60 years, as well as those above the age of 45 years with associated comorbidities.
The Centre has estimated that this priority group is approximately around 27 crore strong.
The government has decided that at around 10,000 government facilities, the vaccination will be free of cost; however, at private hospitals, beneficiaries will have to pay for vaccination.
The Health Ministry is expected to announce the cost at private hospitals in the next two-three days.
How do you register for vaccination?
The second phase will have a system of self-registration. The beneficiary will have to download the Co-win app 2.0, and register for vaccination.
To prove your age eligibility, the beneficiary will either need an election ID card or an Aadhaar. The beneficiary will have to download the Co-win app and register; the back-end will fetch the data from two sources: Aadhaar and electoral roll.
The Centre has estimated that this priority group is approximately around 27 crore strong. (File)
Only after the data on the ages matches, will the app upload any further information.
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Who will be under the category of co-morbid population?
The criteria for comorbidity have not been announced by the Centre yet.
However, those suffering from serious comorbidities, including cancer, kidney failure, cardiovascular, diabetes, and hypertension are likely to be included in the list.
My last updated electoral roll shows that I’m less than 50 years of age? How do I change it?
The District Magistrate will have an option to cross-verify your age claims against your last electoral roll data. After the verification by the DM, the latest age will be updated.
Will I have a choice of choosing the date and place of vaccination?
Yes. Once the Co-win app matches the data on the age, the app will display vaccination centres and geo-coordinates. The beneficiary can choose a site; they will also get the option to choose a date.
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Therefore, based on the availability of slots, the beneficiary can decide the place and time for vaccination.
Can a person having an electoral roll from one state can get vaccinated in another?
Yes. The government will provide the option to the beneficiary to get vaccinated in any state of the country. For instance, a person from Uttar Pradesh working in, say, Karnataka, can get vaccinated in the latter state.
As City Editor ( Delhi) at the Indian Express, Kaunain Sheriff leads city reporting with a sharp focus on accountability journalism, data-driven stories, and ground-level impact. As the National Health Editor he leads the newsroom’s in-depth coverage of pressing health issues.
He is the author of Johnson & Johnson Files: The Indian Secrets of a Global Giant, a definitive investigation into the accountability of one of the world’s most powerful pharmaceutical corporations.
Areas of Expertise
Investigative Reporting: Has deep expertise in investigative reporting spanning public health, regulatory affairs, drug safety, and the criminal justice system. His work sits at the intersection of governance, law, and accountability, with a particular focus on how regulatory failures, institutional lapses, and policy decisions affect citizens’ rights and safety.
Data Journalism: Has extensively on big data–driven investigations, including analyses of flagship government schemes and large datasets on criminal trials, uncovering systemic gaps.
Global Collaborations
Kaunain is a key contributor to major international journalistic projects:
The Implant Files: Collaborated with the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) to expose global malpractices in the medical device industry.
Chinese Big-Data Investigation: Uncovered how a foreign data firm monitored thousands of prominent Indian institutions and individuals in real-time.
Awards & Recognition
His commitment to "Journalism of Courage" has been recognized with the industry's highest honors:
Ramnath Goenka Award for Excellence in Journalism
SOPA Award (Society of Publishers in Asia)
Red Ink Award (Mumbai Press Club)
Indian Express Excellence Awards (Triple recipient for investigations into the NSA abuse in UP, Vyapam scam, and the anti-Sikh riots).
Education: Studied Mechanical Engineering at Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU), Bangalore, before moving to Delhi to pursue his passion for journalism. His engineering training informs his analytical approach, enabling him to decode technical, legal, and data-heavy systems with precision.
Social media
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/kaunain-sheriff-3a00ab99
X ( fromerly Twitter): @kaunain_s ... Read More
The Centre has estimated that this priority group is approximately around 27 crore strong. (File)