The Central government on Monday informed states that the Unique Disability Identification Card (UDID) Card can be used as Photo ID for registration on Co-WIN digital platform for accessing COVID vaccination.
The Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry stated in a release that it has written to the states/UTs on Monday to include the Unique Disability Identification (UDID) Card as a Photo ID while registering on Co-WIN 2.0. As per the Guidance note for Co-WIN 2.0 issued on March 2, 2021, seven prescribed Photo IDs were specified and prescribed for verification of beneficiary prior to their vaccination, it stated.
India launched the nationwide vaccination drive on January 16 and the CoWIN digital platform was developed to streamline the process of vaccination for various categories of beneficiaries across the country.
In the letter written to the states and UTs, the Union Health Ministry has stated that the UDID card, issued to persons with disability by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities, the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry, has all the necessary features such as the name, year of birth, gender and photograph of the person, and meets the criteria for use of identification in COVID-19 vaccination, the ministry stated.
Therefore, with a view to further facilitate access to vaccination for persons with disability, it has been decided to include the UDID in the list of prescribed Photo ID document for COVID-19 vaccination. The necessary provisions for the same are being made and would be made available in Co-WIN shortly.
The Union Health Ministry has advised the States and UTs in the letter to widely publicise the use of UDID card as a permissible photo ID for accessing COVID Vaccination.
