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.

What are the COVID Vaccine Phases?

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.

Registration Process to Receive Covid-19 Vaccine in India

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.

What is the Process for Vaccination?

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.

Where can you get Vaccinated?

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

✓ Is getting the vaccine for Covid-19 mandatory?

Covid-19 vaccination is not mandatory in India. Nevertheless, the government and health experts strongly recommend acquiring the same, as it can protect against recurrence of the viral infection in people who have already suffered from it.

Similarly, it can prevent new individuals from developing Coronavirus infections.

✓ Are there any side effects from the vaccine?

Even though the vaccines have been approved for safe use, mild side effects are not uncommon.

You can expect side effects, such as:

Tiredness
Headache
Muscle pain
Chills
Fever
Nausea

If you notice any additional symptoms, visit a doctor immediately for a check-up.

✓ How many doses are necessary to complete the vaccination procedure?

Individuals need to get two doses of the vaccine, which should be spaced out between four to eight weeks apart from each other. Therefore, do not think that your vaccination is complete after you get the first shot. You would need to return for a second shot after around a month.

✓ How many Covid-19 vaccines are approved in India?

India has currently approved three Covid vaccines:

Covishield, developed by the University of Oxford and AstraZeneca
Covaxin, developed by Bharat Biotech with the Indian Council of Medical Research and National Institute of Virology
Sputnik-V, developed by the Gamaleya Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology in Russia

Currently, only the first two are in use, and other vaccines like Covovax and ZyCoV-D are awaiting approval.

✓ Does a Covid recovered individual need to undergo vaccination too?

It is advisable for everyone to undergo vaccination when possible, regardless of whether they have already recovered from the disease once or not.

✓ How will those who are vaccinated find information regarding their inoculation?

After receiving a shot, people will receive a message notification on their registered phone number. And, after competing both doses, they will receive a digital QR-code certificate as well.

✓ Do you still need to follow any safety measures after undergoing vaccination?

Even after one has been vaccinated, they must still follow the correct Covid protocols, such as social distancing and wearing masks. This is because they might still become carriers for the virus (though they might not see any symptoms) and pass it on to other people who have not been vaccinated.