The Centre on Monday enabled on-site registration and appointment for those in the age group of 18-44 years on the CoWin platform for Covid-19 vaccine at government-run vaccination centres to “minimise vaccine wastage”. “This feature will not be available for Private CVCs (Covid Vaccination Centres), presently and the Private CVCs will have to publish their vaccination schedules exclusively with slots for online appointments,” the Union ministry of health and family welfare said in a release.

It also said it will allow same-day walk-in registration and vaccination of “a few beneficiaries” in the 18-44 group, if doses meant for those who had pre-registered were left unused at the end of the day. This will minimise vaccine wastage, the centre said.

However, the centre left the decision to allow on-site CoWIN registration – for either reason – to individual state/UT governments. These decisions, the centre said, can be based on “local context”.

The Union health ministry has advised states and Union territories to issue clear instructions to all district immunisation officers to strictly adhere to decision of respective state and UT government “regarding the extent and manner of using the on-site registration and appointment feature for 18 to 44 years age group”. “Fully reserved sessions can also be organised for providing vaccination services to beneficiaries belonging to facilitated cohorts. Wherever such fully reserved sessions are organized, all efforts must also be made to mobilize such beneficiaries in sufficient numbers,” the ministry said.

Similar facilities – walk-in registration and help to sign up on CoWIN – are already available for people over 45. This facility was delayed for the 18-44 group to avoid overcrowding, the centre said.

The notification comes amid a tidal wave of criticism over the government’s vaccination drive, which has seen states forced to shut centres – specifically for the 18-44 age group – over a lack of doses.

However, some fear this could now lead to long queues outside vaccination centres as people wait for any doses that may be left unused at the end of the day.