Covid Vaccination in India - Everything That You Need to Know

India's deep experience and knowledge in medicine are rescuing the whole world. An increasing number of nations have benefited from our contributions to the vaccine for coronavirus. It is a proud moment that India has risen during the black swan pandemic with its brilliance and outstanding capabilities.

Here’s what all you need to know about Covid Vaccine in India-

Latest Updates On Covid Vaccination in India

• Approximately more than 21 million covid vaccine doses in India have been administered and continue to roll out along with the ongoing Covid 19 vaccination drive.

(As per reports by the health ministry)

• Bharat Biotech, the makers of Covaxin has announced that the vaccine has an efficacy rate of 81%.

Covid Certificate Post Vaccination

If you need proof that you have got vaccinated for any reason, you can do that by showing a digital certificate which will be saved in “Digi locker”. You’ll receive a message of completion after getting the recommended doses with a link along with a QR code to access the e- certificate.

You can download COVID vaccination e-certificate from the CoWIN section in Aarogya Setu app considering that you have registered with the same mobile number on both the platform.

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Covid Vaccine India App

CoWIN app for COVID-19 vaccination is currently available only for administrators. You can go to http://www.cowin.gov.in to register yourselves. Find out if you are eligible for COVID-19 vaccination as per current guidelines.

Another way of doing so is the “Aarogya Setu app” which is already integrated with the CoWIN app.

If you are unable to register smoothly, read complete Covid Vaccine Registration Step by Step Guide.

India’s COVID 19 Vaccine Firms

India took immediate steps by allowing Pune Serum Institute of India’s Covishield followed by Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin.  After the emergency approval of Covaxin in January in India, the vaccines have also been supplied to neighboring nations. The concern about the absence of efficacy data got decreased as Bharat Biotech reported 81% efficacy recently.

Apart from the above stated, Biological E, Panacea Biotec, Zydus Cadila, Indian Immunologicals, Mynvax are domestic pharma companies joining hands towards the global efforts on the COVID vaccines in India.

Though it is your choice to get vaccinated but if you got the chance, would you? Click here, if you want to get contacted once the vaccination is available for the general public.

Covid Vaccine Side Effect

Side effects after vaccination are considered normal and are generally because your body is building protection. These are not supposed to stay for a longer period of time and might go away in a few days. Possible side effects based on past occurrences are-

• Mild fever
• Fatigue
• Swelling at the injected area
• Nausea

Beneficiaries are advised not to leave the session site post-vaccination. Watch time of 30 minutes is kept to make sure if anyone develops anaphylaxis. In such rare cases, AEFI (Adverse events following immunization) management centers are already in place near vaccination centers.

Some people were also surprised that they didn’t get any side effects, which is normal too. In the end, it all depends on your immune system.

Also, the side effects may vary from vaccine to vaccine.

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First Round of Covid Vaccination in India

Phase 1 of the vaccination drive started on January 16 and by the end of it, 3.8 lakh people were inoculated. This drive included- Health workers, safai karmacharis, the Army and disaster management frontiers. Timings were set to 9 am to 5 pm and the first day was free for everyone, however, people who arrived before 5 pm were vaccinated even after the standard time.

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Second Round of Covid Vaccination India

Started on March 1, currently into action, India aims to inoculate 27 crore people of 60+ years of age and over 45 but with co-morbidities. Anyone falling under this eligibility criterion is requested to approach government and private hospitals to get their doses of safety. While the doses are being given for free at government facilities, private hospitals can’t charge beyond ₹250 per dose.

A lot of new hospitals have been added to the revised center list and timings have been extended to 24X7. The wellness corner has curated the updated list of the centers and you’ll be able to check all the relevant information regarding the COVID-19 Vaccination Drive in a single place. Find a Covid 19 vaccination centre near you

Select your city from the list and find a covid vaccine centre affiliated with Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) near you.

Bhubaneswar, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Allahabad, Varanasi, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Kanpur, Kolkata, Merrut, Patna, Ranchi, Bangalore, Thiruvanantham, Kochi, Ernakulam, Kozhikode, Kannur, Bhopal, JabalpurMumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Jaipur, Chennai, Dehradun, Guwahati, Shilong.

Get Yourself Vaccinated

Covid-19 pandemic ate away our whole one year and we were left on the edge of helplessness ramping up with the battle that took so many lives in between. But luckily, India produces a good share i.e. 60 percent of the world’s vaccines and undoubtedly its efforts have started paying off with the increasing pace of people getting vaccinated.

Second wave of corona has already hit the nation and necessary steps are being taken to cope with it. Partial and complete lockdown are being imposed to prevent the spread of this unexpected disease.

You can add value to the non-stop efforts of our nation by being a part of the COVID-19 Vaccination drive and by encouraging people to participate in the same. Don’t waste India’s gift. Don’t risk your and the lives of other people.

Feeling unwell and think you might have Covid-19 symptoms? You can now book RT-PCR test at home via The Wellness Corner in your city-

Ahmedabad / Bengaluru / Chennai / Delhi / Dehradun/ Faridabad / Ghaziabad / Hyderabad / Jaipur / Kanpur / Kolkata / Lucknow/ Mumbai / Navi Mumbai / Nagpur / Noida / Pune / Thane / Varanasi /

FAQ’s

1. What if I get any side effects, where do I report?
   Please contact ASHA/ANM (health facilities) near you.
   
2. Are there vaccines available for all?
   Initially, no. The vaccines will be provided to priority groups and the government will continuously work on the availability of vaccines for the rest of the people.
   
3. Do I still need to get vaccinated if I had COVID-19 but recovered from it?
   Irrespective of any past infection history, it is advisable to receive both doses.
   
4. Do I still need to wear a mask after getting vaccinated?
   Yes. You must continue to take all precautions as usual.
   
5. If corporates are willing to bear the Covid vaccination cost for their employees, can they conduct a vaccination drive?
   Many companies are planning to do so but the government hasn’t permitted any vaccine manufacturer to sell vaccines privately, as of now.
   
6. Can I choose which covid vaccine I would prefer?
   No. There is no such choice available yet.
   
7. Are covid vaccines in India introduced as effective as other companies?
   Yes, indeed! They have been rolled out only after tests and trials.
   
8. How long will it take to develop antibodies?
   Antibodies generally develop 2 weeks after receiving the second dose.
   
9. If I have a few allergies, will there be any prior test for covid vaccine suitability?
   No, the government hasn’t suggested any tests related to allergies.
   
10. What if I miss the second dose?
    Please take the second dose as soon as possible if missed.
    
11. Are pregnant or lactating women allowed to take the dose?
    No, they shouldn’t. They have not been included in the clinical trials.
    
12. Which documents can be used for registration apart from Aadhar card and driving license?

• PAN card
• Voter ID
• Smart card issued by RGI
• Health Insurance Smart Card
• Passbooks issued by Banks/Post Office
• Service Identity Card issued to employees