CoWIN to assign 4-digit security code to prevent errors: Here's what will change

As more citizens above the age of 18 apply to get vaccinated every day, the government has now begun to look at the efficiency of its CoWIN platform that assigns appointments to citizens who want to get vaccinated, in order to prevent errors. One of the improvements that have been introduced is a four-digit security code that is required to receive the vaccine.

Starting from May 8, the CoWIN portal will rely on a four-digit security code that will be provided to the citizen who has managed to secure a vaccination appointment, NDTV reports. The code will be delivered via SMS and will be required when the vaccine is administered.

Also read: CoWIN APIs revised: Here's how the updates could break vaccine finder tools

The decision to start using a four-digit security code was taken due to the errors caused during data entry by vaccinators, according to NDTV. There have been many reports of people who are unable to visit the vaccination center but received an SMS that they have received the scheduled dose of the vaccine. In order to prevent any inconvenience and confusion, the security code has been introduced.

As a result, the same workflow of getting oneself vaccinated will continue, with an additional step. While a citizen is at the vaccination center, the person who as administering the dose will have to enter the security code into the CoWIN system before the vaccination status can be updated in the system, according to the report, which adds that the authorities also hope that impersonation and misrepresentation will also be prevented thanks to the security code.

Read more: How to use the MyGov WhatsApp chatbot to locate the nearest vaccination center

It is important to note that citizens should carry their phone that contains the security code as he digital certificate that is issued after vaccination will not be available until the vaccinator has entered the updated status on the CoWIN portal. The citizen will then receive an SMS, after the correct security code as been provided and they have been marked as vaccinated.