Can I walk in at any private hospital?
No. You can get the vaccines at only those private hospitals empanelled under central schemes like PMJAY and CGHS. In Gurugram, 19 private hospitals will administer vaccines to the 60-plus population and the 45-plus with comorbidities from March 1. They are Artemis, Kalyani, Max, Medanta, Medeor, Mayom, Metro, Paras, Park, SGT, Signature, Sunrise, Kamla, Umkal, Ahuja, Centre for Sight, Eye Q Clinic, Geetanjali and Aryan. You will see these on the Co-WIN 2.0 portal.
How do I know which vaccine I’m getting?
You won’t know till you visit the vaccination centre. Recipients cannot choose between Covishield and Covaxin, the two vaccines that have received emergency authorisation in India.
Are there pre-vaccination formalities that I need to do?
If you’re 60-plus, you can register on the Co-WIN app or just walk in at a session site, where you will be registered by the vaccination staff and be given the shot. The government will also set up session sites where officials will motivate eligible persons to walk in for jabs. If you’re 45-59, with comorbidities, you are eligible too, but you’ll need a comorbidity certificate signed by a registered medical practitioner. Once registration is complete, an acknowledgment (registration slip/token) will be generated. You will also get a text message.
What are these comorbidities?
The comorbidities include heart disorders, uncontrolled diabetes, hypertension, chronic pulmonary diseases, kidney ailments, cancer, morbid obesity and those on immune medication.
What’s the online registration process?
A recipient can log in by entering her mobile number. An OTP verification will follow. After registration, an account will be created on Co-WIN. Records of registration and appointment can be edited/deleted till you receive the vaccine, after which it gets ‘locked’.
What documents do I need on vaccination day?
Physical copies of Aadhaar card, electoral photo identity card, the photo ID card used for registration on Co-WIN, and a copy of the comorbidity certificate where applicable.
If I face any health problems post-vaccination, who do I contact?
The vaccination officer’s contact number will be shared with recipients after the dose iS administered. A recipient can contact the vaccination officer in case of any discomfort.
Will I be intimated about my second dose?
Yes. An SMS will be sent to your mobile number in due course on the time and date of the second dose. You can, however, choose a different centre for your second dose.
Where can I see the list of hospitals giving vaccines?
The vaccination timetable along with hospital names will be available on the Co-Win 2.0 portal. Slots will be available for on-site registration, appointment, verification and vaccination on the same day at all sites. For the second dose, slots will be reserved. You will see ‘open’ and ‘reserved’ categories for slots. If you’re taking the vaccine for the first time, select ‘open’.
Consult a doctor before taking the jab, follow Covid norms, say experts
People who are above 60 years old need to consult a doctor before taking the vaccine. They can take the Covid shot just like any other vaccine, the only thing to be kept in mind is that they shouldn’t be infected with the virus or have symptoms. Also, if they have any other chronic diseases, they should be stable at the time of vaccination — Dr Piyush Goel, senior consultant (pulmonary & critical care), Columbia Asia Hospital
There are two types of contraindications to Covid — absolute and relative. People with a history of anaphylaxis or allergic reaction to vaccines should not take the shot. Those who have recently undergone surgery or are on blood thinners like warfarin should refrain from taking the vaccine as well. Patients with clotting factor deficiency, platelet disorder or coagulopathy are also advised not to take the vaccine — Dr Virender Yadav, Gurugram chief medical officer
Before taking the shot, you must tell the healthcare provider about the medical conditions you are suffering from and medications you are consuming, if any. For example, if you are on blood thinners, the healthcare provider will watch you closely for any excessive bleeding on the site. It is also important to inform the healthcare provider about any allergies you may have. After getting the jab, wait for 30 minutes at the session site to rule out any immediate adverse reaction. Also, inform your doctor immediately if you experience any adverse events post vaccination — Dr Arunesh Kumar, HOD of Paras Chest Institute, Paras Hospital