With COVID-19 cases rising during its second wave, the country desperately needs to get vaccinated. Till now, only individuals above 45 years of age were being vaccinated in India. However, there’s good news for people in the other age groups. From May 1, 2021, citizens above the age of 18 will be eligible to get vaccinated.
After seeing a growing demand for covid vaccine, the Indian government decided to begin Phase 3 of COVID-19 vaccination from May 1, in which everyone above 18 years will be vaccinated.
However, there has been some confusion regarding how to get yourself vaccinated and where to register yourself for the same. In this article, we will discuss and provide all such details.
under45.in
This website https://under45.in will help you to find on which places the Covid vaccine slots are available right now those are under 45 years. You can not book your slots from here but it is a very good tool that will fulfill your needs. You can search from here on which places Covid vaccine slots are available at the same moment and go to CoWin website and book your slots.
How to Register Myself for COVID-19 Vaccination?
According to the Union Health Ministry, you can register yourself for the COVID-19 vaccine at the website: cowin.gov.in. The registration for individuals above 18+ has begun at 4 pm on 28th April of this year and the Phase 3 vaccination is scheduled to start from May 1, 2021.
As per the data issued by the health ministry last Saturday, 13,83,79,832 vaccine doses have been given since January 16.
On the Co-Win portal, all 18+ individuals can register themselves with a choice of adding up to three additional members in a single registration. Besides, you can also select your nearest or preferred vaccination centre.
On the Co-Win website, the following features are made available for Indian citizens in the Self Registration module:
- Register yourself for a vaccination session, in which you will have the choice to register up to 3 additional members.
- You can schedule your Vaccination centre and date as per availability and convenience.
- You can reschedule your Vaccination date.
The steps to get yourself registered for Phase 3 of COVID-19 Vaccination are given below. But make sure to keep your Photo ID proof (AAdhar Card/PAN/Voter ID/Driving License/Passport) handy.
- Visit www.cowin.gov.in.
- Click on the “Register/ Sign In yourself: button. You will be redirected to the Registration/SignIn for Vaccination page.
- Next, you need to enter your mobile number and click on the “Get OTP” button.
- Then you will receive an OTP on your provided mobile number. You need to enter that on the OTP Verification page that appears. Next, hit on the “Verify & Proceed” button. Please note that the OTP will be valid only for 3 minutes.
- After your OTP is verified, you will have to fill up a simple form by entering details like your Photo ID proof (such as Aadhar/Voter ID/Pan/Driving License number), your name as on your submitted photo ID, gender, and your year of birth. Then click on “Register”.
- Next, you will receive a confirmation message, after which you will be given the option to ‘Schedule’ your appointment for Dose 1 of the COVID-19 vaccine. In this step, you can either enter your Pin Code to look for your nearest Vaccination centres or enter your preferred district.
- Then simply browse through the available vaccination centres and select your preferred date to schedule your appointment. Then you will be required to give your consent to receive your Health ID.
- You can add up to 3 members in the same process by clicking the “+Add Member” button. However, to add multiple members under a single Dose 2 appointment, the type of vaccine as well as the Dose 1 date must be the same.
The appointment for individuals in the age group of 18 to 44 years will be based on the availability of slots in the concerned private vaccination centres. The availability will also depend on the respective state government. Also, make sure to register and schedule your COVID-19 vaccination appointment in advance.
With every vaccination centre’s name, the minimum age for getting vaccinated will be displayed. If any centre displays 18+, that means appointment slots are available at that centre. If there’s an unavailability of slots currently, you can check back later after some time. More Appointment slots will be provided soon.
Apart from the Co-Win portal, you can also register for Phase 3 Vaccination via Aarogya Setu or Umang apps. These mobile apps are available on the Play Store for Android and on the App Store for iOS (make sure to use the upgraded versions of these apps).
On the Aarogya Setu app, you need to click on the CoWin tab present on the Home screen to register for COVID-19 Vaccination. The same goes for the Umang app: click on the Co-Win tab and then proceed by selecting the “Register or Login for Vaccination” option.
After getting both your doses, you can download your Vaccination Certificate from the Umang app by entering the Co-Win tab. The registration and scheduling procedures for both apps are the same as mentioned above.
On the Vaccination Day
Reach your chosen Vaccination centre on the scheduled date and time to get vaccinated. Make sure to wear a mask and sanitise your hands before entering the centre and maintain social distancing. Then, wait for around 30 minutes after the dosage. In case you experience any side effect(s) after the dosage, report it immediately at the Vaccination centre.
If you face any side effect(s) after leaving the centre, inform at the Helpline Number: +91-11-23978046 (Toll-free- 1075).
Even after getting vaccinated, you will need to continue taking all the precautions like wearing masks and following social distancing norms.
However, individuals who are COVID-19 positive must not get vaccinated and must wait until they are well recovered from the disease.
Types and Doses of COVID-19 Vaccine in India
In India, currently, two types of vaccines have been approved and are being provided to the citizens: a) Covishield and b) Covaxin. Another vaccine, named Sputnik V, developed by Gamaleya Institute in Moscow, Russia, has also been approved in India. It will soon be made available when the supplies are ramped up.
Till then, India will rely on Covishield (developed collaboratively by the Oxford University and the British-Swedish pharmaceutical firm, AstraZeneca) and Covaxin (developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) and the NIV (National Institute of Virology)).
After taking Dose 1, Dose 2 of COVAXIN must be taken within 28-42 days after the first dose. In the case of COVISHIELD, Dose 2 should be taken within 28-56 days after taking Dose 1.
Documents Required
At the time of registration, you will need to produce any of the following Photo ID proofs:
- Aadhar Card
- PAN Card
- Driving License
- Voter ID
- Passport
- Passbooks issued by Bank or Post Office
- Pension Document
You may also need to carry the photo ID proof with which you have made the registration at the Vaccination centre. Furthermore, individuals with comorbidities may also be required to carry respective certificates of comorbidities in a specific format as shared by a registered medical practitioner. The list of comorbidities includes diabetes, heart disease, severe respiratory disease, HIV infection, leukemia, sickle cell disease, Thalassemia, end-stage Kidney disease, and others.
Where Can I Get Vaccinated in India?
In India, vaccines are available from both Government, and Private Hospitals or other notified health Facilities. These centres are known as CVCs (COVID Vaccination Centres). You can find your nearest CVC at the time of registration for the COVID-19 vaccination.
You can also find your nearest vaccination centre on Google Maps by searching “COVID vaccination near me”. You will be given a list of all the vaccination centres near your location. You can go ahead and click the “See location info” option to get directions, operating hours, address and contact details.
Cost of Vaccine in India
The homegrown COVID-19 vaccine, Covaxin, is priced differently for states and private hospitals, and so is Covishield, which is the Indian version of the AstraZeneca vaccine. The purchase prices of each vaccine for states and private hospitals are given below –
- Covishield: Rs 400 per dose for states and Rs 600 per dose for private hospitals.
- Covaxin: Rs 600 per dose for states and Rs 1,200 per dose for private hospitals.
Please note that each vaccine has dual doses, which means you have to take two doses of either Covishield or Covaxin in order to boost your immune response against the coronavirus disease. A single dose won’t show any effect.
Since Covaxin is a highly purified and inactivated vaccine, the manufacturer, Bharat Biotech, has priced it higher than Covishield.
However, some states have announced that all individuals above the age of 18 years will be vaccinated for free (at public hospitals). These include Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Sikkim, West Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Goa.
Is it Mandatory to Get Vaccinated?
Taking the COVID-19 vaccine is voluntary, and it is strongly recommended for all individuals to complete the vaccination schedule to stay protected against the disease. Getting vaccinated would also prevent the spread of the virus amongst close contacts, such as family members, relatives, friends, co-workers, etc.
Even if you have been recovered from COVID-19 previously, you will be required to take the vaccine irrespective of your past recovery histories. The vaccine will help you to strengthen your immune response against the COVID-19 disease.
Are COVID-19 Vaccines Safe? Are There Any Side Effects?
The vaccines introduced in the country are safe as they have been tested and approved by the regulatory bodies based on their efficacy and safety.
However, you may experience some of the following common side effects after getting vaccinated:
- Mild headaches
- Mild fever
- Swelling or Pain at the Injection Site
- Irritability
These side effects would go away after a few days. You must still get the second dose if you experience these side effects from the first shot, unless advised otherwise by your doctor or a vaccination provider.
We advise you not to panic and inform the vaccination centre or the Helpline Number: +91-11-23978046 (Toll-free- 1075) whenever you have any side effect(s) after getting vaccinated.
Don’t worry, these side effects are mild in most cases and usually last up to 2-3 days, and they are nothing serious. Side effects are actually normal and are good signs that the vaccine is working or showing its effect in building protection and improving your body’s immune response against the disease.
