The COVID 19 pandemic brought a dark phase in our modern world bringing everything to a standstill. The likes of which affected industries, corporates and the common man. The year 2020 was eventful without the sight of vaccine anywhere around. It was difficult to procure a vaccine owing to the fast changing strains of the virus. The dawn of 2021 brought hope with the announcement of vaccines for the virus worldwide. India being one of the worst hit countries to this pandemic came up with a vaccine drive which is the largest in the world. Some states like Odisha, Assam and Himachal Pradesh even declared free vaccine doses.
Vaccination process
India has a list of effective vaccines that include Covaxin, Covishield, Moderna and Sputnik V. Some of the states are offering free vaccination with Covaxin and Covishield. The entire process of vaccination is organized through the Cowin portal. It helps the user to book slots, retrieve their vaccination certificate and also gain knowledge through the resources. Registration can be done on the portal with your AADHAR synced phone number or independent contact (photo identity required later). You can add up to 5 members in one phone number to book your vaccine slot. The slots would then show you availability and type of vaccine. If the vaccination is paid, then the console will show you the price in it as well. No extra cost is borne by you after booking your slot for vaccination.
Phone & Email Support
The government has been proactive with the Cowin portal to educate people on the vaccination. You can peruse the FAQ page for info on the registration and scheduling. You will know all the necessary precautions to be taken for the 1st dose and 2nd dose of the vaccine that you would be administered with. Individuals are advised to to carry their identity proof as prescribed on the console along with a soft copy or hard copy of the appointment slip. Due to the overwhelming requirement of vaccines, senior citizens are given priority. The website is regularly maintained by the government with all glitches fixed in a short span.
The COVID Vaccine Certificate (CVC) is an important document issued on the Cowin portal. You need to obtain the same for safe travel via train or flight. The support offered by the government of India is unrivaled considering the large number getting vaccinated across the country. Cowin operates an helpline number +91-11-23978046 (toll free – 1075) where you can have your questions clarified. You can also reach the number for health concerns post-vaccine. If you want to write an email, you can send to ncov2019 (at) gov.in. For any technical support on the web or app, you can reach out to 0120-4473222.Â
There are options to raise issues on the website as well. You can add passport details on to your vaccination certificate for international travel, get personal details corrected, and other related concerns addressed. If you have not received a certificate post-vaccination, you can also raise a complaint on the website. Lastly, the vaccine centers would help you with queries on medication or possible side effects after the vaccine.
