How to Get Vaccinated for Covid-19?

India started the world’s largest Covid-19 vaccination programme on January 16, 2021. As per the data by the Co-WIN system, about 1345.13+ Lakh doses of coronavirus vaccines have been administered. The vaccination programme in the country started with healthcare workers. As far as vaccines are concerned, India relied on Covishield, developed by Serum Institute of India and Covaxin, manufactured by Bharat Biotech.

With the passage of time, frontline workers, senior citizens, people aged above 45 years were added to the list of eligibility. While 192.28+ Lakh people have received their second dose of Covid-19 vaccine, 1148.86+ Lakh have received their first dose. Keeping the current rise of Covid-19 cases in mind, India has opened Covid-19 vaccination for people above 18 years of age, starting from May 1, 2021.

If you are yet to get vaccinated for your first dose of coronavirus vaccine, continue reading to know how the Covid-19 vaccination process works. Do refer to the step by step guide for Covid-19 vaccination mentioned below to keep confusion at bay.

Guide to Covid-19 Vaccination Process

The steps for Covid-19 vaccination process are:

Step 1: Register Yourself

Visit cowin.gov.in. CoWIN is the online platform for Indian citizens to register themselves for COVID-19 vaccination and schedule their vaccination slots at the nearest vaccination centers.

Click on “Register/Sign In Yourself”. Verify your mobile number. Once the verification is done, go ahead with registering yourself by adding details like photo ID, age, gender, and others.

P.S. At present, only people 45 years of age can register themselves for vaccination. Registration for people above 18 years will start from April 28.

Step 2: Details of Vaccination

After you have completed your vaccination, you will receive an SMS having details like Date, Time, and Place of your vaccination center. An individual can search for their nearest vaccination centre by either searching through PIN code or by choosing the State and the District.

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Step 3: Document Verification

All your documents as well as photo ID proof will be cross-verified on CoWIN, before your vaccination is done. Please note that an individual should carry identity proof specified by themselves at the time of registration on the Co-WIN portal along with a printout/screenshot of the appointment slip.

Step 4: First Covid-19 Vaccination Dose

After you have been vaccinated with your first Covid-19 dose, you will be kept in an “Observation Area” for 30 minutes to keep a check on any kind of side-effect, whether major or minor.

Step 5: Details of Second Dose

You will get an SMS regarding the second vaccination dose due date. Please note that the Co-WIN system does not do automatic scheduling of second dose appointments. For the second dose, you will have to take an appointment as per your convenience.

Step 6: Second Vaccination Dose

You will have to visit the vaccination center to receive your second dose of Covid-19 vaccination on the due date.

Important Points To Remember About Covid-19 Vaccination

Here are a few significant points for you to note as an Indian citizen eligible for Covid-19 vaccine:

• Taking both the vaccine doses is recommended for full benefits of vaccination. Note that both doses must be of the same vaccine type.
• The 2nd dose of Covaxin is recommended to be administered in the interval of 4 to 6 weeks from the date of 1st dose administration.
• In the case of Covishield, the recommended interval of vaccine administration is 4 to 8 weeks. It must be kept in mind that an interval of 6 to 8 weeks provides enhanced protection.
• Since both the vaccines are safe, the choice of vaccine type is not provided as of now.
• While the government is vaccinating free of cost, private hospitals are charging Rs. 250 per dose.

Final Words

Getting vaccinated for novel coronavirus is taking a step towards ensuring protection against the deadly disease. While Co-WIN registration is highly recommended, one can also get vaccinated without any appointment. Covid-19 vaccination centres have the facility of daily on-spot registration slots in a limited number.

For any queries related to Covid-19 vaccination or online registration on Co-WIN system, a contact on the national helpline ‘1075’ can be established.

Disclaimer: This article is issued in the general public interest and meant for general information purposes only. Readers are advised not to rely on the contents of the article as conclusive in nature and should research further or consult an expert in this regard.