How to get COVID-19 Vaccine in India?

The Covid-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc in the lives of many across the globe. But, with today’s scientific advancement, scientists around the world started development on a vaccine against the disease as early as February 2020.

In India, a nation-wide vaccination drive started on 16 January 2021, and from May 1, everyone above the age of 18 to be eligible to get the vaccine. To get the vaccine, one needs to register on the CoWIN Portal, or the Aarogya Setu app to get their doses.

The Government has started gearing up to vaccinate the general populace through an effective system.

What system, you ask?

Well, read on to know more about how the Government has planned to proceed with the vaccination of India’s population.

In India, the Covid vaccination programme is taking place in a number of phases:

• PHASE 1 - The first phase of vaccination involved frontline workers, like healthcare professionals (including doctors, nurses, paramedics, and hospital and nursing home staff) as well as other essential workers such as police, paramilitary forces, and sanitation workers.
• PHASE 2 - The next phase started on 1 March 2021 and introduced the vaccine to all individuals who are aged above 60 years, as well as those above the age of with comorbidities (such as diabetes, heart conditions, HV, or some types of cancers).
• PHASE 3 - During the third phase, that started from 1 April 2021, everyone above the age of 45 became eligible for the jab.
• PHASE 4 - Starting on 1 May 2021, the government will open vaccinations to everyone above 18 years of age. Registrations for the jab will be available on the CoWIN portal and Aarogya Setu app from 28 April. 

All individuals who are eligible for the Covid vaccine must register to receive the injection. There are two main ways to do so, through the CoWIN platform, or using the Aarogya Setu application.

The application will allocate a particular date, venue, and time to applicants, based on which they would need to visit the concerned location for the inoculation. The process of registration involves the following steps:

How to register for Covid vaccine on the CoWIN platform

• Step 1: In the CoWIN platform, provide your phone number.
• Step 2: Enter the OTP, which you receive on this number and click on proceed.
• Step 3: You will be directed to the registration page where you will have to upload a valid photo ID proof, and fill in your details.
• Step 4: Once you are registered, you can add up to three more people to get vaccinated with the same mobile number.
• Step 5: Then you just have to schedule an appointment at a Vaccination Centre close to your location and book it during any available time slot.
• Step 6: You will get a message with your confirmation details, and that’s it! You have successfully booked an appointment, all that is left is to go and get the jab. 

How to register for Covid vaccine on the Aarogya Setu App

• Step 1: On the Arogya Setu app, click on the “CoWIN” tab and select the "Register Now" option
• Step 2: You will need to enter your mobile and verify it with an OTP
• Step 3: Once verification is done, you must upload your personal details such as a photo ID card, age, gender, etc.
• Step 4: After you have registered, you can add a maximum of 4 beneficiaries through the Aarogya Setu app.
• Step 5: Opt for a vaccination site based on your location and pin code and book an available time slot.
• Step 6: Once you have registered successfully, you will get a message with the appointment details. Now all you have to do is get the vaccine dose. 

Besides online registration through Aarogya Setu or CoWIN, individuals can also opt for offline registration as well.

Doing this involves heading to one of the vaccination centres with the required documents.

You can complete the registration process using these accepted documents for vaccine registration:

• Voter ID/Passport/pension document/driving license/PAN card/Aadhaar card
• Smart cards related to medical insurance from the Union Ministry of Labour
• Bank account or post office account passbooks
• Service ID belonging to Public Limited enterprises/state and Central government agencies
• Identity cards issued officially to members of parliament, members of the legislative assembly and members of the legislative council.  

The steps to register for the COVID-19 booster or 3rd dose are – 

Step 1: Visit the Co-WIN website, and sign up for vaccination.

Step 2: Click on “Register / Sign In” to access it.

Step 3: Follow the redirection, to complete your cellphone registration. 

Step 4: After that, book an appointment at a Vaccination Centre close to your location during any available time slot.

Step 5: Finally, you will get a message concerning your appointment details to get the vaccine dose.

The following are some of the steps that registered applicants will need to follow when visiting a centre for this vaccine:

• Step 1: Go to the venue allocated for your inoculation during registration.
• Step 2: Receive the shot and if they ask you to, you might need to stay under observation for around half an hour.
• Step 3: Remember to get the second dose of the vaccine after four to eight weeks (depending on which Covid vaccine you get) to complete the process.

Vaccination can take place in one of three modes. These are as follows:

• Outreach Session - In these cases, the vaccine will be provided to registered applicants at locations other than healthcare centres, nursing homes, hospitals. For example, some people will receive their vaccinations through specialised camps in schools, community halls, colleges, etc.
• Fixed Session - A fixed session involves conducting vaccination procedures at established medical centres, hospitals, nursing homes and more. Such sessions are overseen by medical experts, which is why if you undergo vaccinations through this particular method, you will need to stick to a stringent schedule.
• Special Mobilised Vaccinations - This option is limited to remote, hard-to-reach areas, occupied by migratory populations. Also, the international border region population will receive inoculation through this mobile process. In such a procedure, doctors will visit the people to deliver the shots to them.