Covid Vaccination: Registration likely to begin Jan 21

The country's Covid-19 vaccination drive will soon begin, with an app for online registration set to be operational from January 21.

People will have to fill out information through a mobile and web-based app called "Surokkha", developed by the Department of Information and Communication Technology, the Dhaka DC office, and the Directorate General of Health Services.

Health officials said they are planning to vaccinate 25 lakh people in the first phase and for this, people have to register through the Surokkha app.

"We are trying heart and soul to open the app for registration by January 21. Tomorrow [Monday] there will be a press briefing where every details of the app will be disclosed," ABM Khurshid Alam, director general of DGHS, told The Daily Star yesterday.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare will hold a press conference at the Secretariat at 2:00pm to reveal the vaccine deployment plan and details of the Surokkha app.

Contacted, Prof Meerjady Sabrina Flora, additional director general of DGHS, said the app is in the final stage of development.

"We may allow people to register in phases. If more people start registering on the app, it may create a huge load on the

app.

"But it will be decided later whether it will be kept open for registration in phases," she said.

How will the app work?

Applicants have to download and use the app or visit the website, where they will have to choose the relevant category from around 19 categories of professions, according to ICT department sources.

After that, the user has to input their NID number and date of birth.

The app will then automatically fill in other details, collecting information from the NID database.

The applicant has to give details of their medical history -- whether they have diabetes, cancer, hypertension, or other diseases.

The user also has to input their present address and mobile phone number and they will then get an OTP (One-Time Password) sent to their phone.

After entering the OTP, a vaccine card will be generated, which will mention where and when the person will be vaccinated with the first and second dose.

After both doses, a certificate will be given that the person has received the Covid-19 vaccine.

Immigration and various embassies will also be able to verify through a web portal whether a person has been vaccinated.