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Data of 2.46 lakh CISF personnel exposed online

Several of those logs contained personnel files, health records and personally identifiable information on CISF officers…reports Asian Lite News

A new report on Saturday claimed that personal files and health records of at least 2.46 lakh personnel from the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) have allegedly been exposed online owing to a data security lapse.

A TechCrunch report cited an unnamed security researcher in India as saying that the researcher found a database packed with network logs generated by a security appliance connected to CISF’s network.

“But the database was not secured with a password, allowing anyone on the internet to access the logs from their web browser,” the report alleged.

The logs allegedly contained records for more than 246,000 full web addresses of PDF documents on CISF’s network.

Several of those logs contained personnel files, health records and personally identifiable information on CISF officers.

Some of the files are dated as recently as 2022, according to the report.

The researcher said the security appliance is built by India-based security company Haltdos.

The company, however, did not comment on the report.

In January, reports surfaced that Covid-19 data of over 20,000 Indians, including health workers, in PDF files were available on the Raid Forums website on the Dark Web, and the hacker claims that they were directly coming from a government CDN (content delivery network) server.

The same documents were available freely on Google Search as “List of Beneficiaries Enrolled for Covid Vaccine” with keywords like RT-PCR results.

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The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare later brushed off the reports, saying “no data has leaked from the CoWIN portal and the entire data of residents is safe and secure on this digital platform”.

The Ministry had emphasised that the vaccination platform “collects neither the address of the person nor the RT-PCR test results for Covid-19 vaccination”.

Last year, the Health Ministry and security researchers had denied the breach of Covid-19 vaccination data of 150 million Indians, after news of the hack spread online.

The data leak allegedly happened on the CoWin portal, which is used for vaccination.

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CoWIN goes global, 50 countries show interest

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Countries including Canada, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama and Uganda have shown interest in adopting the CoWin platform, reports Asian Lite News

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday will address the CoWIN global conclave, where countries who have shown interest in the government’s digital platform will be given an opportunity to adopt it. The platform is being used in India to help people register for vaccination against Covid-19, book a slot and download vaccination certificates.

As many as 50 countries including Canada, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama and Uganda have shown interest in adopting the CoWin platform. Various health and technology experts from different countries are expected to participate in the event, which will be inaugurated by Union health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan.

Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan

Foreign secretary HV Shringla, Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan and Dr RS Sharma, the CEO of the National Health Authority (NHA), are also expected to speak at the event.

The conclave aims to share India’s experience with regards to universal vaccination to fight Covid-19 through CoWIN, the NHA said in a statement posted on its website.

The event, being organised in a joint initiative by the Union ministry of health, external affairs and the NHA, aims to share India’s experience with regards to universal vaccination to fight Covid-19 through Co-WIN.

The full form of CoWIN is Covid Vaccine Intelligence Work. It was introduced by the central government in January when the vaccination drive against Covid-19 began in the country. It is a website for beneficiaries and for officials associated with the vaccination process, there is a different mobile application as well.

The e-portal allows beneficiaries to book a vaccination slot. They can choose a day and time slot as per their preference. The beneficiaries can register at the website with their phone number. They will then receive an OTP to be entered in the required field. The beneficiary will then be asked to enter their Aadhaar details and can move forward to book their vaccination slot.

It also allows the user to add four family members in their profile and book slots for them as well.

After successful vaccination, they can also download their certificate from the portal.

To facilitate Indians planning to travel abroad, the platform also offers the option of linking one’s passport with that of the Covid-19 vaccine certificate.

Meanwhile, private hospitals will no longer be able to directly procure Covid vaccine supplies from manufacturers, and will have to place their orders through the government’s CoWIN platform which is the backbone of national Covid-19 immunisation delivery management system, people familiar with the matter said.

The new procurement process will be operational from July 1. The move comes even as questions are being raised about the reach of private hospitals when it comes to vaccinations, and their ability to use the entire 25% of vaccine production allocated to them. By some estimates private vaccination centres account for only 4 % of the total vaccination centres in the country. And according to an affidavit submitted by the government in the Supreme Court on June 26, between January and May,2021, private hospitals administered 1,56,30,130 doses of both vaccines, Covishield and Covaxin.

ALSO READ-India to share Covid vax tech with 50 countries

READ MORE-Govt warns against fake CoWIN apps

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India to share Covid vax tech with 50 countries

India to share the technology ‘free of cost’ with more than 50 countries from Latin America, Africa and Asia, reports Asian Lite News

India is all set to share ‘free of cost’ its Covid-19 vaccination technology with more than 50 countries from Latin America, Africa and Asia.

CEO of National Health Authority Dr RS Sharma made the revelation while addressing the second Public Health Summit 2021 organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).

Sharma said that CoWIN portal for vaccination is unique in the world in terms of portability, scalability and inclusivity and it is a citizen-centric platform, and that 300 million plus registrations and vaccinations with granular details of each individual are available on the portal with a very simple process of registration.

“More than 50 countries from Latin America, Africa and Asia have shown interest in our vaccination system and we will share the technology with them free of cost,” Sharma informed.

In his address, Dr Randeep Guleria, Director, AIIMS, Delhi called for a robust health care system in India with about 2.5 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as health budget. He also underlined the need for close collaboration between the Centre and the states on health issues despite health being a state subject.

Guleria further called for equitable access to healthcare in rural and remote areas, stressing “there is need for augmentation of specialised manpower and upgradation of health infra in the country”.

Speaking on the event, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said that Covid has strengthened Public-Private Partnership model in India’s healthcare system with a win-win situation for both.

He said that this partnership between Industry and Public Health Experts can work on different models such as health care and diagnostics delivery, vaccine development, Research and Development, telemedicine facilities for rural areas and digital delivery of medicines.

The minister said that this partnership could be a game changer and will truly transform the health sector in India.

Referring to the world’s largest free vaccination drive Singh said, with the delivery of more than 32 crore doses, India is the fastest country in the world to administer vaccines. This, he said, not only makes it the world’s fastest vaccination drive but also makes it distinct because of the smooth manner in which it has proceeded despite the heterogeneous character of the country and a huge population of 135 crore.

India overtakes the US in total covid vaccine doses administered

In a significant COVID-19 vaccination milestone, India has overtaken the United States in the total number of vaccine doses administered so far, the union health ministry said.

As many as 32,36,63,297 doses have been administered in India since the vaccination drive started on January 16.

The United States, meanwhile, has administered 32,33,27,328 doses of the vaccine since vaccinations started on December 8. The United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and France, have administered 7,67,74,990, 7,14,37,514, 4,96,50,721 and 5,24,57,288 doses respectively.

More than 1.15 crore balance and unutilised COVID-19 vaccine doses are still available with the states and UTs to be administered, the Union Health Ministry said.

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All 18+ can sign up for jabs from today

Government has already clarified that there will be no walk-in allowed for beneficiaries in the third phase, reports Asian Lite News

Registration for the third phase of Covid vaccination for everyone above 18 years will start from 4 p.m. Wednesday.

On April 19, the Union Government announced that everyone above the age of 18 will be eligible to get a vaccine against Covid-19 from May 1.

In the morning, Aarogya Setu, Government’s mobile application for contact tracing and Adissemination of medical advisories to contain spread of Covid, tweeted: “Registration for 18 plus to begin on http://cowin.gov.in, Aarogya Setu App and UMANG App at 4 PM on 28th April. Appointments at State Government centers and Private centers depending on how many vaccination centers are ready on 1st May for Vaccination of 18 plus.”

Government has already clarified that there will be no walk-in allowed for beneficiaries in the third phase.

A medical health worker giving a shot of Covishield vaccine to a frontline worker. Covid-19 vaccination drive at private hospital daryaganj in New Delhi

“Only self-registration and advance appointments for people between 18 to 45 years of age. No walk in allowed,” government had said.

In phase 3 of the vaccination drive, vaccine manufacturers would supply 50 per cent of their monthly Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL) released doses to the Government of India (GoI) and would be free to supply the remaining 50 per cent doses to the State government and in the open market.

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All vaccination would be part of the National Vaccination Programme, and mandated to follow all protocols such as being captured on CoWIN platform, linked to AEFI reporting and all other prescribed norms.

Stocks and price per vaccination applicable in all vaccination centres will also have to be reported real time.

Vaccination will continue to be provided free of cost to the eligible population as defined earlier which include Health Care Workers (HCWs), Front Line Workers (FLWs) and all people above 45 years of age at Government of India (GoI) vaccination centres.

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Delaying vax will give virus opportunity to mutate

People should not delay taking Covid-19 vaccine as this will give virus an opportunity to develop new variants and some of them may reduce the efficacy of current vaccines, say healthcare experts.

They believe that those not taking the vaccine are doing a great injustice to their near and dear ones.

Dr. Mervin Leo, Cluster COO, Gleneagles Global Hospitals believes that Covid-19 virus still has many hosts left to replicate in, and it has more opportunity to randomly develop new variants. “Some of these variants may reduce the efficacy of the current vaccine, which is surely not a desirable scenario to be in. Hence, it is important people encourage each other to get vaccinated at the earliest and ensure the virus is driven out of our lives before it gets to us,” he said.

“Vaccination for all is about controlling the pandemic at a population level through reaching herd immunity, and the objective cannot be achieved unless each and every one joins the movement and get themselves vaccinated. Fight against coronavirus requires a community effort, and everybody must step forward in and get their vaccines, so that we can break the chain of transmission from one person to another,” said Dr. Riyaz Khan, CEO, Continental Hospitals.

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Also read:India waives customs duty on oxygen, vaccines

“There needs to be emphasis to get a vaccine (Covishield/Covaxin) whichever is available at the earliest and easily. Both are effective. Now it is proven beyond doubt that even a single dose provides decent protection. Vaccines are highly effective in preventing hospitalisations and deaths.It is unnecessary for people to wait for a year to get vaccinated, and the longer we wait to observe any side-effects might only lead to developing of future virus mutants,” said Dr. Aarathi Bellary, Consultant Internal Medicine, SLG Hospitals.

“RNA vaccines and adenovirus-based vaccines (technologies used to develop vaccines against Covid-19) are already in phase two human trials for other infectious diseases like influenza and a different coronavirus called MERS. Scientists already have safety and immunogenicity data on similar vaccines, and it is time we trust in medical science and opt in to get vaccinated at the earliest,” said Dr. Anusha Karra, Internal Medicine, Western Plains Hospital, Dodge City, USA.

Also read:Kerala repeats calls for free vaccines