Second phase of COVID-19: MoH lists out specified co-morbidities and complete list of vaccination centres

New Delhi: With the second phase India's Covid-19 vaccination drive for people above 60 years of age and those above 45 years of age with co-morbidities kick-started, today (March 1), the Ministryfor Family Health and Welfare has announced the list of co-morbidities for the age group 45-49. 

To ramp up the COVID vaccination capacity manifold, significantly large number of private facilities has been announced as COVID Vaccination Centres (CVCs). The MoH has informed that around 10,000 hospitals under Ayushman Bharat-PMJAY and 687 hospitals under CGHS can be used by States as COVID Vaccination Centres (CVCs). And, states also given freedom to use all Private Hospitals empanelled under State Government Health Insurance Schemes as CVCsand use health facilities of all PSUs and all Government Health Facilities as CVCs. 

Private hospitals functioning as CVCs may recover a charge subject to a ceiling of Rs. 250 per person per dose. The Government COVID Vaccination Centers will offer free vaccination for all with the Central Government bearing the full cost of the vaccination.

Of the 20 criterions, the Ministry also allowed people with co-morbidities like decompensated cirrhosis, diagnosis of any solid cancer on or after 1st July 2020 or currently on any cancer therapy, to take jabs.

A list of all these private hospitals has been uploaded on the website of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and National Health Authority. These can be accessed at:

 a) https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/CGHSEmphospitals.xlsx

b) https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/PMJAYPRIVATEHOSPITALSCONSOLIDATED.xlsx

All the private health facilities which will serve as Government COVID Vaccination Centers must follow strict norms of due process, quality and safety including integration with the National Co-Win technology platform. All private health facilities must also have adequate space, adequate cold chain arrangements, adequate number of vaccinators and support staff and adequate arrangements for addressing Adverse Event Following Immunization (AEFI). States were explained the 3 (three) methods of registration i.e. Advance Self Registration, Onsite Registration and Facilitated Cohort Registration.

States have been explained that the private hospitals functioning as CVCs can charge subject to a ceiling of Rs. 250 per person per dose along with the electronic and financial management mechanism in this regard. User Names and Passwords to be provided to the private facilities to facilitate effective use of CoWIN 2.0, were also discussed during the meeting.

In addition, mapping of private facilities with the nearest cold chain points to ensure seamless flow of vaccines to them was explained to the States. The simplified system of certifying people with co-morbidities within the 45-59 years age group was also explained to the States. The simplified one page certificate to be signed by any registered medical practitioner is at annexure-1. The certificate can either be uploaded on Co-WIN2.0 by the beneficiary while self registering or a hard copy can be carried by the beneficiary to the CVC.

The nationwide COVID-19 Vaccination drive was launched on January 16, 2021 and more than 1.5 crore healthcare and frontline workers were vaccinated, according to MoH.