Covid-19 Vaccine in India

Follow the steps given below to register on the CoWIN website: 

Step 1: Visit the CoWIN web portal 

Step 2: Click on Register/Sign in 

Step 3: Enter your mobile number and click on ''Get OTP'' 

Step 4: Enter the OTP received on your phone 

Step 5: Click on ‘Verify’ 

Step 6: Enter the required details such as your name, year of birth, gender, etc. 

Step 7: Click on ''Register'' 

Step 8: Click on ''Schedule'' to schedule your appointment 

Step 9: Enter your pin code and click on ''Search'' 

Step 10: The centres available will be displayed 

Step 11: Choose the date and time convenient for you 

Step 12: Click on ‘Confirm’ 

How to Register for Covid Vaccine through Aarogya Setu App?

Step 1: Download the Aarogya Setu mobile application on your phone 

Step 2: On the home screen, click on the CoWIN tab 

Step 3: Select ‘Vaccination Registration’ 

Step 4: Enter your phone number to receive the OTP 

Step 5: Enter the OTP received and verify 

Step 6: On the page for ‘Register for Vaccination’, enter the required details 

Step 7: Click on ‘Register’. 

Step 8: Click on ''Schedule'' to schedule your appointment 

Step 9: Enter your pin code 

Step 10: Click on ''Search'' 

Step 11: Select the date and time 

Step 12: Click on ''Confirm'' 

Steps to Download COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate from the Co-WIN Website

Step 1: Visit the Co-WIN website: https://www.Co-WIN.gov.in/

Step 2: Click 'Sign in/Register’ and key in your mobile number.

Step 3: An OTP will be sent to your mobile. Enter this code.

Step 4: Click on ‘Certificate’ and then select ‘Download’.

Once you follow these steps, the COVID-19 vaccination certificate will be downloaded onto your device.

Steps to Download COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate from Aarogya Setu App:

Step 1: Download and open the Arogya Setu app.

Step 2: Use your mobile number to sign in/log into the app and click on ‘Co-WIN’.

Step 3: Select 'Vaccination Certificate’ and enter the 13-digit beneficiary reference ID number.

Step 4: Select ‘Download’.

Your COVID-19 vaccination certificate will be downloaded on your device.

Documents Required for Covid Vaccine Registration in India:

To register for the coronavirus vaccine, you will need a photo-identification document which can be any one of the following:

1. Aadhaar card
2. PAN card
3. Voter ID
4. Driving licence
5. Pension document
6. Passport
7. Labour Ministry’s Health Insurance Smart Card
8. MGNREGA job card
9. Post office or bank passbooks
10. Service ID cards issued by government organisations or Public Limited companies

Eligibility Criteria for the Covid-19 vaccination in India:

In the latest ''liberalised and accelerated'' phase 3 of the Covid-19 vaccination drive in India, the eligibility criteria have been relaxed to include anyone above the age of 18.

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has prioritised beneficiaries for the coronavirus vaccine in India. Approximately 27 crore individuals are to be vaccinated by July 2020. Recently, the Central Government relaxed the age limit on Covid-19 vaccinations, effective from 1 April 2021.

Individuals above the age of 45 will be eligible to get the vaccine even if they do not have any comorbidities.

Earlier, the age limit for the second phase of the world's largest vaccination campaign was restricted to 60 years and for people aged 45 and above with specified co-morbid conditions. The campaign commenced on 1 March 2021.

The country-wide vaccination drive started on 16 January 2021. The first phase saw healthcare workers getting the vaccine while frontline workers started getting the vaccine on 2 February 2021.

The gap between the first and second dose of the vaccine has now been extended to between four and eight weeks.

1. In the first phase: One crore healthcare workers and two crore frontline workers
2. Individuals above the age of 45, in the current phase
3. Individuals below the age of 45, in the subsequent phase

Cost of Covid-19 Vaccine in India

Cost of Covishield: Serum Institute of India has set the price of the Covishield vaccine at Rs.300 per dose to state governments and at Rs.600 per dose to private hospitals. 

Cost of Covaxin: Bharat Biotech has set the price of Covaxin at Rs.400 per dose to state governments and at Rs.1200 per dose to private hospitals. 

The Government of India has announced that the Covid vaccine will be provided free of cost for frontline workers. There is no information as of now about the cost of the vaccine to the general public.

Procedure during Vaccination for Covid-19

At the vaccination centre, there will be a team of 5 officials in each vaccination team. There will be three rooms prepared for beneficiaries to ensure social distancing and seamless implementation of the vaccine. These are:

1. Waiting room
2. Observation room
3. Inoculation room

Volunteers will be observed for 30 minutes after administration of the vaccine.

Co-WIN App for Coronavirus Vaccination Details

The Central Government has introduced the Covid Vaccine Intelligence Work (Co-WIN) digital platform to synchronise data between all the states and union territories. This is to facilitate the implementation of the vaccination program in a more efficient way. Here is what you need to know about the app:

1. It will have options for individual registration, self-registration, and bulk upload
2. There will be modules for the user administrator, beneficiary registration, acknowledgement of vaccination, and updation of status
3. There will be options to register on the official website as well as on the mobile application
4. Spot registrations are not allowed for priority group vaccinations
5. An SMS and QR-based certificate will be sent as acknowledgement of vaccination to the beneficiary once it has been completed

Covid-19 Insurance in India:

The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDA) has made it mandatory for all health insurance companies to provide a standard Covid-19 health insurance policy to all policy holders, applicable from 10 July 2020. There are two kinds of policies which are:

1. Corona Kavach: This is a regular indemnity policy with coverage for coronavirus treatment with a tenure of 3.5 months to 9.5 months

1. Corona Rakshak: This is optional with a standard benefit coverage and a fixed payout

These two plans offer different coverage of treatment expenses. The maximum sum assured has been capped at Rs.5 lakh and the minimum sum assured at Rs.50,000 for both these plans. There will be a 5% discount for healthcare workers with affordable premiums for all.

How to Update Your Passport Details on your Covid Vaccination Certificate?

To update your Passport number on your Covid Vaccination Certificate please follow the steps given below:

1. Visit https://www.cowin.gov.in/
2. Click on 'Register/ Sign in Yourself'
3. Enter your registered mobile number
4. Click on 'Get OTP'
5. Enter the OTP to sign in
6. Click on 'Raise an Issue'
7. Select 'Add Passport Details'
8. Enter your passport number
9. You will receive a text message confirming that your request for correction of vaccination digital certificate has been submitted successfully.
10. After a few minutes, you will receive another text message stating that your vaccination certificate details have been updated successfully.

You can then download the certificate and it will show your passport number. It is important to have passport details on the vaccination certificate if you are planning to travel abroad in the future.

Covid-19 Vaccines Approved for Use in India

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has approved two vaccines for emergency use in India. These are:

Covishield: This is a vaccine developed by the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca in collaboration with Oxford University. It is being produced in India by the Serum Institute of India (SII). Clinical trials are currently in progress. Permission for the vaccine is restricted to emergency use subject to regulatory terms and conditions.

Covaxin: This vaccine has been developed by Bharat Biotech in collaboration with the National Institute of Virology (Pune) and the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR). Clinical trials are ongoing. It is approved for use in emergency situations which are in the public interest. It is currently in the clinical trial mode. In case of mutant strains, there will be more options for vaccinations.

Sputnik V: The Sputnik V vaccine will be available in a few weeks in India after clearing statutory regulations. Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, based in Hyderabad, has entered into a partnership with the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) for this purpose. At first, 250 million doses of the vaccine will be supplied to India.