The Drug Control General of India(DCGI)’ has finally approved vaccination for citizens of India for emergency use, nearly 11 months after the first case of COVID-19 was reported in the country. With both Covishield and Covaxin getting the nod, vaccination drive now is only a matter of announcement as both Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech are prepared to supply the doses required for phase one vaccination. Here's is how the COVID-19 vaccination process will be carried out across India.
An individual will have to register on CO-WIN system using a valid photo ID to enroll for the COVID-19 vaccination.
Following registration, the beneficiary will receive SMS messages on their registered mobile number.
The 1st SMS that the person will get will be generated on confrmation of registration.
The 2nd SMS will be generated mentioning the date, time and place of the vaccination.
The 3rd SMS will be generated after 1st dose of vaccination with due date of next vaccine.
The SMS process is then followed by the completion of second dose along link for digital certificate.
On vaccination site, at entry point vaccination officer-1 (Police/homeguard/civil defence) will be present for pre-checking registration of beneficiary and photo ID verification. The official will also assist in crowd management at the vaccination site.
Vaccination officer number 2 will verify documents of the person on CO-WIN system.
It is now that the vaccination officer will vaccinate the beneficiary after checking all the documents.
Following vaccination, all beneficiaries should wait in observation area for 30 minutes.
The vaccination officer 4 and 5 will ensure all vaccinated people follow the 30 mins wait time and will monitor and guide the non-registered beneficiary.
People will then be asked to come for second doze of vaccine, on the due date as per SMS received.
There will be no spot registration in any phase of priority group vaccination.
In self-registration, the beneficiaries can directly register themselves through the web as well as the mobile application. Photo identity will be required for registration. And if an individual registers himself or herself, the data will be verified to check whether he or she is above 50, or below 50 but with co-morbidity issues.
Only frontline workers will be vaccinated in the first two phases. Next, people above 50 years of age, who are at a greater risk of contracting Covid-19, will be vaccinated. People below that age group but with co-morbidity issues will be considered after that. Union health minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan has clarified that vaccine will be free for frontline workers. It is not yet clear whether the vaccine for people above 50 years and people with co-morbidities will be free or subsidized.