Health Ministry’s Warning on Fake CoWIN Apps
The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a warning for people related to the fake CoWIN (COVID Intelligence Network) app on Play stores. As per the ministry, some unscrupulous elements have created apps similar to the CoWIN app of the government.
Key Points
- CoWIN i.e. COVID Intelligence Network is the vaccination program of India under which CoWIN app will be available on app stores for the citizens of India to register for the COVID-19 vaccine.
- As per the latest information by the ministry, the CoWIN app for which citizens will be required to register for getting the Covid-19 vaccine in India is not live yet and is still in the pre-production stage.
- The ministry has cautioned the people against some hackers who have created apps with similar names to scam people and steal their data.
- The ministry has urged people not to download these apps.
- The ministry also clarified that proper information will be provided to the people when the CoWIN app will be available in app stores. Before this, people should prevent themselves from scammers.
- As of now, the Drug Control General of India (DCGI) has given emergency use authorization to two vaccines in the country- Covishield and Covaxin.
- No details regarding the cost of the vaccines have been announced yet for the general public however, it will be free of cost for frontline workers.
- In the first phase of vaccination, India aims to cover 30 crore people. Out of which, first the vaccine will be provided to 1 crore health workers, 2 crore frontline workers, and 27 crore people above the age of 50 years.
In December 2020, IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had also announced a challenge for strengthening the Co-Win system for vaccine distribution in India. The first two contestants will be given a cash prize of Rs 40 lakh and Rs 20 lakh respectively.