Co-WIN 2.0 : a “ Work-in-Progress “ ?

 

 

Context :

Co-Win 2.0 soon for self – registration  /  Times of India  /  18 Feb 2021

( hyperlink could not be found / extract from print media )

Extract :

Ø  The govt is also set to launch the version 2.0 of the Co-WIN digital app for  SELF-REGISTRATION  of vaccine beneficiaries above 50 years of age

Ø  Besides, many more private hospitals will join the drive going forward. At present, about 2,000 private hospitals are already engaged in the vaccination effort

Ø  For  the next phase, the govt plans to increase immunization sessions four to five times of the current 10,000 – 11,000 sessions that are being conducted per day

Ø  To enable priority population to SELF REGISTER on Co-WIN, the govt has put in place necessary systems such as,

#   Stabilizing the Co-WIN platform to handle the huge demand

#   Finalizing APIs for interfacing with Co-WIN platform

#   Deciding on relevant databases for POPULATING the data-details about

     the citizen such as, AGE – ADDRESS – ID etc

#   Keeping TRACK of progress on Co-WIN platform

#   Delivery of SECOND DOSE

#   Issue of vaccination certificate

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I am glad, this Co-WIN 2.0 , will incorporate most of the features / functionalities suggested by me in my following earlier e-mail :

Voting and Vaccination : Compare and Contrast …………………….[ 19 Oct 2020 ]

 

However , I am worried about a ( reported ) “ deviation “ from my following suggestion in that e-mail

 

MY SUGGESTION

      #     Based on the  “ Registration Data “ submitted, the Central Server ( of

             Aushman Bharat ) will issue a UNIQUE  PRIORITY NUMBER to the person (

             by SMS on mobile ) . The message will also assign a specific   “ Vaccine

             Delivery Centre – VDC “ ( a nearby Hospital–Nursing Home–Lab – Doctor )

             

              

           

     #     Server will, simultaneously send notification to that particular VDC ,

            providing full registration details of the concerned citizen – indicating his

            PRIORITY

           

    #     Based on the “ Number of Citizen “ assigned – and the PRIORITY of each

           such citizen, software installed will send an SMS to the citizens ,

           assigning  SPECIFIC DATE / TIME to each person for visit .

           

          This automatic / rule-based “ SCHEDULING “ by the software, will ensure “ No

          crowding / maintenance of Social  Distancing “

    

   #     Concerned VDC will fill in details such as : Vaccinated on ( …..  ) /  Did not

          turn up

           ( This will alert health worker to visit residence of person for follow-up /

           reschedule visit )

 

DEVIATION REPORTED

 

“Officials told The Economic Times that the Co-WIN platform is being updated to let people book appointments for vaccinations by choosing a centre and time of their convenience. Once it is opened up, people above 50 years of age will be able to register and authenticate their age.”

Source :

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/tech-bytes/cowin-2-0-in-the-works-for-covid-vaccine-self-registration/articleshow/81081264.cms 

Question :

If ( say ) , Mumbai has 200 vaccination centres to choose from ( by, say 5 million citizen of 50 yrs + ),

Will Co-WIN 2.0, display ( on a tiny mobile screen ), a “ droplist “ which reads :

“ Select your preferred Vaccination centre from the following list ( only one choice ) “

 [  Names / Addresses of 200 centres ]

And will that tiny screen also have another “ droplist “ which reads,

“ Select your preferred Time by clicking below ( only one ) “

[  7 am / 7:10 am / 7:20 am ………………….. 8 pm  ]

The probability that 9,876 persons choose :

>   Nanavati Hospital - Andheri

>  9 am 

>  23rd March 2021 ,

is VERY HIGH  !

Expect a PANDEMONIUM  !

And, if the software has built-in LIMITATION RULES ( eg : not to exceed XYZ number for each Vaccination centre / each session / each time ), then there is a distinct possibility that the process of  self - registration , can take 4 hours on the mobile !

==================================================

Dear Dr Harshvardhanji,

Without doubt, your team has done a commendable job of our Vaccination Drive

But the task ( before the mutant COVID strikes ) is to ramp up daily vaccination number , from current ( ave ) of 400,000 to 4 MILLION ( TEN TIMES ) ,in order to cover our entire population within ONE YEAR

This just cannot be achieved if Co-WIN 2.0 lets self-registering ONE BILLION persons to CHOOSE their desired vaccination centres and timings

I am afraid, such a choice will lead to a lot of confusion and software glitches, especially when the App / Central Server / APIs / Databases etc., will need to dynamically upgrade in respect of :

Ø  Additional brands of vaccines ( beyond the current two )

Ø  Thousands of additional Vaccination Centres

Ø  Thousands of NEW sessions

Ø  Registration from Common Service Centres (for persons not having smart phones )

All of these continuous changes will need AUTO UPDATING of Co-WIN , every day !

With regards,

Hemen Parekh  /  hcp@RecruitGuru.com  /  18 Feb 2021