<span style="color: #222222;">Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan today chaired a high-level meeting with Health Secretaries of States and Union Territories on the vaccination of age-appropriate groups through a video conference.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The nationwide COVID-19 Vaccination drive was launched on 16th January this year.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The government will start administering COVID-19 vaccine to people above 60 years of age and those within the age bracket of 45 to 59 years with specified co-morbidities from 1st of next month.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The States and UTs were explained the basic features of version 2.0 of the digital platform CO-Win, which is a population-scale software with capacity of processing several thousands of entries.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The new phase of vaccination of age-appropriate groups will expand the COVID vaccination in the country manifold.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">During the meeting, States and UTs were asked to ensure that the private health facilities mandatorily must have adequate space for the vaccination process.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">They must have basic cold chain equipments for storing the vaccine vials. All beneficiaries must be advised to carry any one of the photo ID document including Aadhar Card, Electoral Photo Identity Card, Certificate of co-morbidity for citizens in age group of 45 years to 59 years, signed by a registered medical practitioner.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The beneficiaries will be able to self register in advance by downloading the CO-Win 2.0 portal and through other IT Applications such as Arogya Setu.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">This will show the Government and private hospitals serving as COVID Vaccination Centres with date and time of the available schedules.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The beneficiary would be able to choose the COVID Vaccination Centres of his choice and book an appointment for vaccination.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Vaccination will be free of charge at the Government Vaccination Centres. The beneficiary will have to show a photo ID document for proof of age and certificate of co-morbidity.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">Those taking the COVID vaccine at any designated and empanelled private health facility will have to pay a pre-fixed charge.</span><br />''