How to register for COVID-19 vaccine online in India

How to register for COVID-19 vaccine online in India

The COVID-19 vaccine was launched on 16th January, 2021. The first group includes healthcare and frontline workers. The second group to receive COVID-19 vaccine are persons over 60 years of age as of January 1st, 2022 and persons between 45 and 59 years with comorbid conditions. This group started receiving vaccinations from March 1st, 2021. Those who are above 45 years of age will be able to take the vaccination from April 1st, 2021. 

Based on the potential availability of vaccines the Government of India has selected the priority groups who will be vaccinated on priority as they are at higher risk. The first group includes healthcare and frontline workers. The second group to receive COVID-19 vaccine will be persons over 60 years of age and persons between 45 and 59 years of age with comorbid conditions.

Now the Government of India has decided to provide vaccine to the persons who are above 18 year of age from 1st May 2021.

How many types of COVID-19 Vaccines are available in India

Two types of COVID-19 Vaccines are available in India

1) Covaxin -manufactured by Bharat Biotech Limited.

2) Covishield -manufactured by Serum Institute of India

Adequate immune response takes 2-3 weeks after completion of entire vaccination schedule i.e., after the second dose of COVISHIELD and COVAXIN.

What technology has been used in development of the currently available two vaccines in India?

1) Covishield vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, is a Viral Vector-based Technology which is also used to manufacture Ebola vaccine.

2) Covaxin vaccine, manufactured by the Bharat Biotech, is a Whole-virion Inactivated Coronavirus Vaccine which is also used to manufacture vaccines like Influenza, Rabies and Hepatitis- A.

Which vaccine is better between Covisheild and Covaxin

There is no head-to-head comparison done between the two vaccines being used in India so one cannot choose one over the other. Both would work fine in preventing the infection as well as prevent a person from going into severe state of the disease. As a long-term effect, it would be preventing death for elderly people or those who have comorbidities.

Where can I get the vaccine from?

Vaccines are available from Government and Private Health Facilities as notified, known as COVID Vaccination Centres (CVCs)

Which COVID-19 vaccines are licensed in India?

Two vaccines that have been granted emergency use authorization by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) in India are Covishield® (AstraZeneca's vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute of India) and Covaxin® (manufactured by Bharat Biotech Limited).

Why vaccination is not provided to children who are usual target?

COVID-19 affects all age groups; however, morbidity & mortality is several times higher in adults particularly in those above the age of 50 years. Children have either asymptomatic or mild infection. The general practice is to first evaluate any new vaccine in older population and then age reduction is done to assess the safety and effectiveness in paediatric population. The currently available vaccines have not been evaluated in children so far. There are some clinical trials now underway to test the effectiveness and safety of the COVID-19 vaccines in children.

What is the composition of both the vaccines?

Composition of Covishield includes inactivated adenovirus with segments of Coronavirus, Aluminium Hydroxide Gel, L-Histidine, L-Histidine Hydrochloride Monohydrate, Magnesium Chloride Hexahydrate, Polysorbate 80, Ethanol, Sucrose, Sodium Chloride, and Disodium Edetate Dihydrate (EDTA). Composition of Covaxin includes inactivated Coronavirus, Aluminum Hydroxide Gel, TLR 7/8 Agonist, 2-Phenoxyethanol and Phosphate Buffered Saline [NKA1].

Is COVISHIELD same as the vaccine been given in UK by Astrazeneca?

Yes, Covishield vaccine, manufactured by the Serum Institute of India, is based on the same patent technology as the Astrazeneca vaccine.

Is it mandatory to take the vaccine?

Vaccination for COVID-19 is voluntary. However, it is advisable to receive the complete schedule of COVID-19 vaccine for protecting oneself against this disease and also to limit the spread of this disease to the close contacts including family members, friends, relatives and co-workers.

How long I will remain protected after vaccination?

Longevity of the immune response in vaccinated individuals is yet to be determined. Hence, continuing the use of masks, handwashing, physical distancing and other COVID-19 appropriate behaviours is strongly recommended.

How will I know if I am eligible for vaccination?

In the initial phase, COVID-19 vaccine will be provided to the priority group - Health Care and Front-line workers. The second phase vaccinations, starting March 1, 2021 will allow for all Indians above the age of 60 and Indians between the age of 45 and 59 with comorbidities to be vaccinationated. Registrations will be allowed on the Co-WIN 2.0 Portal, Aarogya Setu app etc. The comorbidities that make a person eligible for vaccinations are listed below:

Heart Failure with hospital admission in past one year

Post Cardiac Transplant/Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD)

Significant Left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVEF <40%)

Moderate or Severe Valvular Heart Disease 

Congenital heart disease with severe PAH or Idiopathic PAH

Coronary Artery Disease with past CABG/PTCA/MI AND Hypertension/Diabetes on treatment 

Angina AND Hypertension/Diabetes on treatment

CT/MRI documented stroke AND Hypertension/Diabetes on treatment

Pulmonary Artery Hypertension AND Hypertension/Diabetes on treatment

Diabetes (> 10 years OR with complications) AND Hypertension on treatment

Kidney/ Liver/ Hematopoietic stem cell transplant: Recipient/On wait-list

End Stage Kidney Disease on haemodialysis/ CAPD

Current prolonged use of oral corticosteroids/ immunosuppressant medications 

Decompensated cirrhosis

Severe respiratory disease with hospitalizations in last two years/FEV1 <50%

Lymphoma/ Leukaemia/ Myeloma

Diagnosis of any solid cancer on or after 1st July 2020 OR currently on any cancer therapy

Sickle Cell Disease/ Bone marrow failure/ Aplastic Anemia/ Thalassemia Major

Primary Immunodeficiency Diseases/ HIV infection

Persons with disabilities due to Intellectual disabilities/ Muscular Dystrophy/ Acid attack with involvement of respiratory system/ Persons with disabilities having high support needs/ Multiple disabilities including deaf-blindness

What is the safety and efficacy of the vaccines used in the country?

To ensure that a vaccine is safe, we need to try it on a large number of people. The vaccine developers have not reduced the sample size at any stage of clinical trials rather it was bigger than what we usually test a vaccine on.

When a vaccine is tested, most of the adverse events or unwanted effects, if any, occur in the first four to six weeks of its administration. So, in order to ensure that it is safe, we keep a close watch, for the first two-three months, on the people it has been given to. This data help us decide if a vaccine is safe. All concerned in the line of vaccine development, testing and evaluation have followed these procedures to the T. Both Indian vaccines are considered safe on this yardstick.

As for the efficacy of the vaccine, we need time to tell how effective a vaccine is. All the global agencies have set the benchmark that only those vaccine candidates which show an efficacy of at least 50-60% will be considered. Most of the vaccines have shown an efficacy of 70-90% within the short period of two to three months of observation. Besides when a vaccine is given an emergency use authorizations/permission for restricted use, as in the case of the COVID-19 vaccine, the trial follow-up continues for one-two years to assess the total duration of protection the vaccine will provide.

Does this vaccine provide herd immunity?

When an increasing number of people get vaccinated in the community, indirect protection through herd immunity develops. The percentage of people who need to be immune in order to achieve herd immunity varies with each disease. For example, its 95% for measles, however the proportion of the population that must be vaccinated against COVID-19 to begin inducing herd immunity is not known.

How to Register to get COVID-19 Vaccine

1) Open the official website https://selfregistration.cowin.gov.in

2) Enter your 10 digit mobile number

3) Click on Get OTP.

4) OTP will be received in your mobile.

5) Enter the OTP adn click on validate.

in Next screen the below options will be shown

6) Select one of the ID Proof given below

a) Aadhaar,

b) Driving License

c) PAN Card

d) Passport

e) Pension Passbook

7) Next Enter the Number of selected ID proof

8) Enter Name as per the Selected ID Proof

9) Select Gender

10) Enter Year of Birth in the format YYYY

11) Click on Register to get slot

Watch Video on How to Register for COVID-19 Vaccine

Register COVID-19 Vaccine Here