Election Commission nod to use its data for COVID vaccination drive; wants data to be deleted after exercise is over

The Election Commission will prolong “full assistance” to the federal government in figuring out focused beneficiaries on the polling station stage for the COVID-19 vaccination drive, however wants well being authorities to delete the data as soon as the inoculation exercise is over, sources privy to the event stated on Friday.

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On December 31 final 12 months, Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Sunil Arora requesting the fee’s assist in figuring out folks above 50 years of age on the polling station stage, the sources stated.

On the difficulty of data safety, the house secretary wrote that the federal government is complying with the present finest practices for making certain cyber safety.

He has assured the ballot panel that the data will be used solely for the aim of vaccination, the sources stated.

The Election Commission (EC), after detailed deliberations, wrote again to the house secretary on January 4, saying it has determined to render “full assistance” within the vaccination drive. But requested the federal government to be certain that the data is strictly used for the restricted goal for which it has been sought, the sources stated.

The fee additionally stated that the data ought to be deleted by well being authorities as soon as the vaccination exercise concludes, they stated.

Some senior EC officers will be in contact with nodal officers of the Union dwelling ministry and the Union well being ministry to settle day-to-day points, the sources stated.

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Last month, officers of the Union well being ministry and the Niti Aayog had met the EC high brass in search of their assist in the distribution of COVID-19 vaccine given the ballot panel’s sturdy community on the sales space stage.

The letter by the house secretary is a comply with up to the assembly, the sources stated.

According to tips for the COVID-19 vaccination drive, the most recent electoral roll for Lok Sabha and meeting elections will be used to establish the precedence inhabitants over the age of fifty years.

Twelve id paperwork, similar to Voter ID, Aadhaar card, driving licence, passport and pension doc, will be required for beneficiary identification.

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According to the federal government, the pictures will be supplied first to an estimated one crore healthcare employees, and round two crore frontline employees, after which to individuals above 50 years of age, adopted by individuals youthful than 50 years of age with related comorbidities.

Cost of vaccination of healthcare and frontline employees will be borne by the central authorities.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will launch India’s COVID-19 vaccination drive on January 16 by way of video convention.

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The Drugs Controller General of India had not too long ago accredited Oxford COVID-19 vaccine Covishield, manufactured by the Serum Institute, and indigenously developed Covaxin of Bharat Biotech for restricted emergency use within the nation, paving the best way for a large inoculation drive.