Co-WIN launches new API: Know your customer’s vaccination status
How it works
To use this API, an individual needs to enter his/her mobile number and name. Thereafter, they will get an OTP that they have to enter. In return, Co-WIN will send a response to the verifying entity on the individual’s status of vaccination, which will be as follows –
0 --- Person is not vaccinated; 1 --- Person is partially vaccinated or 2 --- Person is fully vaccinated. This response will be digitally signed and can be shared instantly with the verifying entity. This can be useful in instances where an entity does not need to see the certificate in full and would just need to know whether an individual has been vaccinated or not.
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Real-life example
At the time of booking a railway ticket, an individual will input the necessary details for buying the ticket and if required, the entity concerned will also get the vaccination status in the same transaction, with the due consent of the individual. The ministry further said the KYC-VS would facilitate all such use cases and more. It is both consent-based and privacy-preserving.
Currently, Co-WIN is already issuing a digitally verifiable certificate as proof of vaccination for each vaccinated individual. This certificate can be saved on a digital device (smartphone, tablet, laptop etc.) or stored in Digi Locker from where it can be digitally shared as and when required as proof of vaccination.
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Similarly, at entry points where such certificate is required (e.g., in malls, office complexes, public events etc.), it may be shown in both digital and physical forms. However, there may be instances where an entity does not need to see the certificate in full and would just need to know whether an individual has been vaccinated or not.
For instance, an enterprise/employer may like to know the vaccination status of its employees to resume functions in offices, workplaces etc. The Railways and airlines may want to get the status of vaccination of the passengers who are getting their seats reserved in the trains.
Therefore, the ministry said, there is a need to enable an Aadhaar-like authentication service for the status of vaccination through Co-WIN. "To take care of these cases and others that may come up, Co-WIN has developed a new API called 'Know Your Customer's/Client's Vaccination Status' or KYC-VS," the ministry said.
-PTC News
