The Indian government is considering allowing mothers to report side effects of routine immunizations on the government’s U-WIN platform. This move comes as part of a broader effort to strengthen the country’s immunization program and coincides with the admission by British pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca that its COVID-19 vaccine, Covishield, can induce blood clots in rare instances.
The U-WIN platform, similar to the CoWIN portal used for COVID-19 vaccinations, registers and tracks routine vaccination and immunization. At present, only healthcare providers have access to the U-WIN platform and can track information in real-time on vaccination, adverse effects, follow-ups, registration, and certification.
Currently, U-WIN is undergoing a pilot phase in two districts of each state and union territory, which has registered over 40 million beneficiaries and recorded 125 million vaccine doses. A nationwide rollout is planned for the new government.
Notably, U-WIN is set to become the world’s largest electronic immunization system serving millions of beneficiaries under the universal immunization program. This is expected to lead to higher vaccination coverage and further reduce infant mortality. In the coming days, U-WIN will be integrated into the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission, allowing healthcare providers access to the complete health records of patients.
The government’s move to allow mothers to report side effects of routine immunizations on the U-WIN platform is a significant step towards improving vaccine safety and ensuring the well-being of children. This initiative, coupled with the ongoing revision of national guidelines on adverse effects, underscores the government’s commitment to strengthening the country’s immunization program.
