People with no ID card can still get vaccinated

Bengaluru: According to the latest guidelines, people who do not have ID cards can get themselves vaccinated against Covid-19 through special sessions. Those in old age homes, nomads, sadhus and monks will be covered in these sessions.

The Union ministry and health and family welfare recently issued a standard operating procedure for these people. It stated, “The ministry has received several representations from various state governments and agencies/organisations.”

The Centre has directed the State governments to do form district-level task forces to identify such persons in every district who do not possess any prescribed photo ID cards.

The drive will include identifying nomads inclusive of sadhus/saints of various religions, prison inmates, inmates in mental health institutions, citizens in old age homes, roadside beggars, people in rehabilitation centres/camps among others.

The Centre stated that there will be a key facilitator for each group. He must have a valid and active mobile phone. He must also possess at least one of the seven mandated ID cards. The facilitator could be officials of both private or public institutions which provide care and services to people.

CoWin portal will give the facility for the creation of special vaccination sessions through group registration. Health department officials said, “This will be available only at government vaccination centres. Information such as name, year of birth (as provided by the beneficiary), and gender will be entered into the system. The facilitator will verify the identity of the beneficiaries. Digital vaccination certificates will be provided to beneficiaries, preferably at the vaccination centre itself.”

The health department authorities said, “The government plans special drives for persons like nomads who are potentially vulnerable to the infection as they are always moving from one place to another.” However, as there is a shortage of vaccines, there is no clarity on the dates on which these drives would be held. The officers added, “There is also a special drive to be held for people with special needs.”