How do you get Covid-19 vaccination in India?

In India, the Government’s regulator for drugs CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organization) has allowed two vaccines which are:

• Covishield (Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine developed in the UK) and 
• Covaxin (by Bharat Biotech). 

These vaccines have only received the permit to be used in a restricted manner for emergency situations. This means that they can be used despite the companies not having completed the entire procedure of clinical trials(( Press Statement by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on Restricted Emergency Approval of COVID-19 Virus Vaccine,  accessed at https://pib.gov.in/Pressreleaseshare.aspx?PRID=1685761#:~:text=The%20Subject%20Expert%20Committee%20of,III%20clinical%20trial%20of%20M. Covishield and Covaxin Is in Phase II/III and in Phase III of clinical trails respectively (as on Jan 2021.)). 

Cost and manner of vaccination

Currently, the vaccine provided in the first phase of vaccination will be given free of cost. Two doses of the same vaccine, given 28 days apart, will be required to be taken by an individual to complete the vaccination(( FAQ on COVID-19 Vaccines,  Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, accessed at https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/FAQsonCOVID19VaccineDecember2020.pdf))

Priority groups getting vaccinations

The first phase of the Covid-19 vaccine will be administered to priority groups including:

• Health Care Workers (HCWs): Health care providers and workers in health care settings (Public and Private), including ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) workers. 
• Frontline Workers (FLWs): Personnel from State and Central police department, armed forces, home guard, prison staff, disaster management volunteers and civil defense organization(( Directorate General, Fire Services, Civil Defence & Home Guards, Ministry of Home Affairs, available at https://dgfscdhg.gov.in/civil-defence.)), municipal workers and revenue officials engaged in Covid-19 prevention, containment, surveillance and associated activities. 
• Persons More than 50 years of age and less than 50 years with co-morbidities like diabetes, hypertension, cancer, lung diseases etc(( COVID-19 Vaccines Operational Guidelines, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, accessed at https://main.mohfw.gov.in/newshighlights-3)).

Process to get vaccinated in India 

Covid-19 vaccine will be provided only to beneficiaries pre-registered in the COVID Vaccine Intelligence Network (Co-WIN) system at www.cowin.gov.in(( COVID-19 Vaccines Operational Guidelines, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, accessed at https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/FAQsonCOVID19VaccineDecember2020.pdf)).

Step 1: Registration

Any person can register  by providing  basic demographic details like name, date of birth, permanent and current address, and details of co-morbidities, if any.  They will be required to provide their photo identity from one of the following: 

• Aadhaar Card
• Driving License
• Health Insurance Smart Card issued under the scheme of Ministry of Labour
• MGNREGA Job Card 
• Official identity cards issued to MPs/MLAs/MLCs
• PAN Card
• Passbook issued by Bank/Post Office
• Passport
• Pension Document
• Service Identity Card issued to employees by Central/State Govt./PSUs/ Public Limited Companies
• Smart Card issued by RGI under NPR 
• Voter ID Card

Step 2: Date and Place of Vaccination

Following online registration, the beneficiary will receive an SMS on their registered mobile number regarding the Health Facility where the vaccination will be provided, along with the scheduled date and time for the same. 

Step 3: Verification of Identification Proof

The Photo ID produced at the time of registration must be produced to the health officials and they will verify it  at the time of vaccination(( FAQ on COVID-19 Vaccines,  Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, accessed at https://main.mohfw.gov.in/newshighlights-31)). 

Step 4: Acknowledgment after receiving the vaccination

On getting a due dose of Covid-19 vaccine, the beneficiary will receive SMS on their registered mobile number. 

Step 5: Results

After all doses of vaccine are administered, a QR code based certificate will  be sent to the registered mobile number of the beneficiary. Their information will be uploaded on the Co-WIN platform(( FAQ on COVID-19 Vaccines,  Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, accessed at  https://main.mohfw.gov.in/newshighlights-31)). 

Even after getting vaccinated, people are required to continue taking the key precautions like wearing a mask, maintaining hand sanitization and physical distance ( 6 feet or Do Gaj)(( FAQ on COVID-19 Vaccines, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, accessed at  https://main.mohfw.gov.in/newshighlights-31)).