Frequently asked questions on COWIN REGISTRATION

 Frequently Asked Questions on Co-WIN Registration 

 1. Where can I register for COVID-19 vaccination? 

You can log into the Co-WIN portal using the link www.cowin.gov.in and click on the “Register/Sign In yourself” tab to register for COVID-19 vaccination. 

2. Is there a mobile app that needs to be installed to register for vaccination? 

There is no authorised mobile app for registering for vaccination in India except Aarogya Setu. You need to log into the Co-WIN portal. Alternatively, you can also register for vaccination through the Aarogya Setu App. 

3. Which age groups can register for vaccination on the Co-WIN portal? 

All citizens aged 18 years and above can register for vaccination. 

4. Is online registration mandatory for Covid 19 vaccination? 

Vaccination Centres provide for a limited number of on-spot registration slots every day. Citizens aged 45 years and above can schedule appointments online or walk-in to vaccination centres. However, Citizens aged 18-44 years should mandatorily register themselves and schedule appointment online before going to vaccination centre. In general, all citizens are recommended to register online and schedule vaccination in advance for a hassle-free vaccination experience. 

5. How many people can be registered in the Co-WIN portal through one mobile number? 

Up to 4 people can be registered for vaccination using the same mobile number. 

6. How can citizens with no access to smart phones or computers manage online registration? 

Up to 4 people can be registered for vaccination using the same mobile number. Citizens can take help from friends or family for online registration. 

7. Can I register for vaccination without Aadhaar card? 

Yes, you can register on Co-WIN portal using any of the following ID proofs: a. Aadhaar card b. Driving License c. PAN card d. Passport e. Pension Passbook f. NPR Smart Card g. Voter ID (EPIC) 

8. Is there any registration charge to be paid? 

No. There is no registration charge. B. Scheduling Appointment 

9. Can I book an appointment for vaccination in the Co-WIN portal? 

Yes, you can book appointment for vaccination through Co-WIN portal after logging-in to the Co-WIN Portal through your registered mobile number. The system will show vaccination centres that allow vaccination as per the age of the citizen entered in the registration portal. 

10. What are the options if one citizen is aged 45 or above and other is aged 18 or above? 

If one citizen is aged 45 or above and other citizen is aged 18 to 44 years and both want to schedule a combined appointment, then only private paid vaccination centres or vaccination centres as per State’s policy will be made available. However, it may happen that some hospitals which are catering to people with 45 years or more may not allow the booking of appointments for people with lesser age. In that case you may make bookings one by one. 

11. Can I check the vaccine being administered at each vaccination centre? 

Yes, while scheduling an appointment for vaccination, the system will show vaccination centre names along with the name of the vaccine that will be administered in case of private hospitals. Government hospitals may not show the name of the vaccine. 

12. Can I download appointment slip? 

Yes, the appointment slip can be downloaded after the appointment has been scheduled. 

13. How can I find the nearest vaccination centre? 

You can search in Co-WIN portal (or Aarogya Setu) for the vaccination centre nearest to your location by either searching through PIN code or by choosing the State and the District. 

14. What if I cannot go for vaccination on the date of appointment? Can I reschedule my appointment? The appointment can be rescheduled at any time. In case you are not able to go for vaccination on the date of appointment, you can reschedule the appointment by clicking on “Reschedule” tab. 

15. Do I have an option for cancellation of appointment? 

Yes, you can cancel an appointment already scheduled. You can also reschedule the appointment and choose another date or time slot of your convenience. 

16. Where will I receive confirmation of date and time of vaccination? 

Once an appointment is scheduled, you will receive the details of the vaccination centre, date and time slot chosen for appointment in an SMS sent to your registered mobile number. You can also download the appointment slip and print it or keep it on your smart phone. 

17. Can I get vaccination without appointment? 

Citizens aged 45 years and above can schedule appointments online or walk-in to vaccination centres. Citizens aged 18-44 years should mandatorily register themselves and schedule appointment online before vaccination. However, all citizens are recommended to register online and schedule vaccination in advance for a hassle-free vaccination experience. C. 2 nd dose scheduling 

18. Is it necessary to take 2nd dose of vaccination? 

Yes. It is recommended that both doses of vaccine should be taken for realising the full benefit of vaccination. Both doses must be of the same vaccine type. 

19. When should I take the 2nd dose of vaccination? 

It is recommended that the 2nd dose of COVAXIN should be administered in the interval of 4 to 6 weeks from the date of 1st dose administration. For COVISHIELD the recommended interval is 4 to 8 weeks while an interval of 6 to 8 weeks gives an enhanced protection. You may choose the date of 2nd dose vaccination as per your convenience. 

20. Will my 2nd dose appointment be automatically scheduled by Co-WIN system? 

No. You have to take an appointment for the 2nd dose vaccination. The Co-WIN system will help you book an appointment in a Vaccination Centre where the same vaccine is being administered as the vaccine type (COVAXIN or COVISHIELD) of the 1st dose. 

21. Whom can I contact if I have some problems related to my online registration of appointment? 

You can call on the national helpline ‘1075’ for information and guidance on COVID-19 vaccination and Co-WIN software related queries. D. Vaccination 

22. Is vaccination free at all vaccination centres? 

No. Currently, vaccination is free at Government hospitals and charged at INR 250 in Private hospitals for citizens aged 45 years and above. From 1st May onwards, the Vaccination for people of 45 years or more will continue to be free at the Government facilities. For people between 18 to 44 years the States will announce the policy relating to payment. Vaccination will be priced by private facilities and you can see the price of each vaccine at the time of booking. 

23. Can I check the price of the vaccine? 

Yes. The System will show the price of the vaccine below the name of the vaccination centre at the time of scheduling an appointment. 

24. Can I choose the vaccine? 

System will show the vaccine being administered in each vaccination centre at the time of scheduling an appointment. Citizen can choose the vaccination centre as per their choice of vaccine being administered However, the choice will not be available at the Government facilities . 

25. What precautions should I take at the time of 2nd dose vaccination? 

The Vaccination Centres have been directed to ensure that if a citizen is being vaccinated with 2nd dose, they should confirm that the first dose vaccination was done with the same vaccine as is being offered at the time of second dose and that the first dose was administered more than 28 days ago. You should share the correct information about the vaccine type and the date of 1st dose vaccination with the vaccinator. You should carry your vaccine certificate issued after the first dose. 

26. Can I get vaccinated with 2nd dose in a different State/District? 

Yes, you can get vaccinated in any State/District. The only restriction is that you will be able to get vaccinated only on those centres which are offering the same vaccine as was administered to you on your first dose. 

27. Which documents should I carry with me for vaccination? 

You should carry your identity proof specified by you at the time of registration on the CoWIN portal and a printout/screenshot of your appointment slip. 

28. I have registered myself on Co-Win portal. However, I am not able to make any booking as I do not see any vaccination facility near my location? What should I do? 

Yes, it is possible that no facility near your place has published their vaccination program as yet. You may wait for some time till vaccination facilities near your place are onboarded on Co-Win platform, become active and start their services. E. Vaccine Certificate 

29. Why do I need a vaccination certificate? 

A COVID Vaccine Certificate (CVC) issued by the government offers an assurance to the beneficiary on the vaccination, type of vaccine used, and the provisional certificate also provides the next vaccination due. It also is an evidence for the citizen to prove to any entities which may require proof of vaccination specially in case of travel. Vaccination not only protects individuals from disease, but also reduces their risk of spreading the virus. Therefore, there could be a requirement in future to produce certificate for certain kind of social interactions and international travel. In this context the certificate issued by Co-WIN has built in security features to guarantee genuineness of the certificate which can be digitally verified using approved utilities which are provided in Co-WIN portal. 

30. Who is responsible for providing the vaccination certificate? 

The Vaccination Centre is responsible for generating your certificate and for providing a printed copy post vaccination on the day of vaccination itself. Please do insist on receiving the certificate at the Centre. For Private Hospitals, the charges for providing a printed copy of the certificate are included in the service charge for vaccination. 

31. Where can I download vaccination certificate from? 

You can download vaccination certificate from the Co-WIN portal (cowin.gov.in) or the Aarogya Setu app or through Digi-Locker by following the simple steps. You may do so by using the mobile number used at the time of registration. F. Reporting Side effects. 

32. Whom do I contact in case of side effects from vaccination? 

 You can contact on any of the following details: a. Helpline Number: +91-11-23978046 (Toll free- 1075) b. Technical Helpline Number: 0120-4473222 c. Helpline Email Id: nvoc2019@gov.in You may also contact the Vaccination Centre where you took vaccination, for advice.

Kerala reports 31,265 cases; night curfew to be imposed from Monday, says CM Pinarayi Vijayan

 Amid a spurt in Covid-19 cases, India achieved a new milestone by administering the highest doses of vaccination. Over one crore doses of Covid-19 vaccine were given in one day for the first time on August 27, according to the data from Union Health Ministry. A total of 1,00,64, 032 doses of vaccine were administered on Friday. Uttar Pradesh administered the most number of doses among all states at 28.62 lakh on August 27.

Prime Minister of India Sri  Narendra Modi hailed this ‘momentous feat’ and appreciated the goal achieved in making the vaccination drive a success.  India also achieved the highest weekly vaccination figure of nearly 4.5 crore doses from August 21 to 27. Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh organized special vaccination campaigns to push the numbers further.
Meanwhile, India reported 46,759 new coronavirus infections in the last 24 hours, which is the highest in nearly two months, taking the overall Covid-19 tally to 3,26,49,947. The number of daily Covid-19 deaths also increased by over 500. With 509 fatalities, the death toll surged to 4,37,370, according to Union Health Ministry data on Saturday. Kerala remains the top contributor to India’s Covid-19 tally with 32,801 new infections. The number of active cases in the county has surged to 3,59,775 and now accounts for 1.10 per cent of India’s total Covid infections. The national Covid-19 recovery rate was recorded at 97.56 per cent, the ministry said.

Kerala has been reporting high Covid-19 cases for over a month now. The state was advised by the Centre to follow a fivefold strategy to control the spread of Coronavirus infections, along with Maharashtra. Union Health Secretary in a letter has asked the two states to consider night curfews in areas with high coronavirus case numbers as the country reported more than 40,000 new infections for two days in a row on Friday. Kerala has accounted for more than half of the total active cases, followed by 16% in the western state of Maharashtra.

Myths and Facts about Covid 19

 Some important facts about Covid are listed below.

• COVID-19 is a new infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
• Knowing the facts about COVID-19 symptoms, how the virus is passed on and what you can do to stop it will help you protect yourself and your community.
• There is a lot of misinformation about COVID-19 so it’s important to check that the information you use comes from a reliable source such as the World Health Organization or your government health authority.

Lot of misinformation and myths about the Corona virus are spreading very fast.  Here are some of the most common myths which many people heard about.

Symptoms and severity

Will most people who get COVID-19 get very sick or die?

FACT: Most of the people who get COVID-19 will have a mild form of the illness and will be able to recover at home, without needing hospital treatment.  It is better to stay home and call your local health authority for advice if you have any symptoms of COVID-19. If you have difficulty breathing, persistent pain in your chest or loss of speech or mobility, call your health provider straight away.

Can you always tell if someone has COVID-19?

FACT: No. The virus that causes COVID-19 can be in someone’s body for up to 14 days before they get symptoms, and some people will have such a mild case of COVID-19 that they might not have any symptoms.

You can still pass COVID-19 on, even if you don’t have any symptoms. That’s why it is important that everyone follows the prevention advice – such social distancing, wearing a face mask and regularly washing their hands – even if they feel healthy.

Who’s at risk? 

Does COVID-19 only affect rich people?

FACT: Anyone can get COVID-19, regardless of how much money they have. COVID-19 has affected people from all over the world, including people of all backgrounds, races, ages and financial statuses.

Does COVID-19 only affect old people, meaning young people don’t have to worry?

FACT: While COVID-19 can be more dangerous in older people, anyone can get it including young people, some of whom become seriously ill. While we don’t yet fully understand why some people get more serious symptoms, we do know that young people are more likely to develop serious symptoms if they have certain underlying health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, cancer or high blood pressure.1

Are people living with HIV more likely to get seriously ill?

FACT: We are still learning about the risk of developing severe COVID-19 for people living with HIV. Current evidence suggests that people living with HIV have a higher risk, but less so than other health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, severe asthma, heart or lung problems, stroke, dementia or older age.

If you are living with HIV, the best way to stay healthy is to continue taking your antiretroviral treatment. This will keep your immune system strong, so you can deal with infections. If you are worried that you might have HIV, get tested so you can start treatment if you need it.

Vaccines

Are the COVID-19 vaccines safe?

FACT: Yes. The COVID-19 vaccines currently in use have all been through a rigorous testing and approval procedure to ensure they are safe and effective.

Many of the COVID-19 vaccine trials have included people living with HIV, and so far the results show that the vaccines are safe for people with HIV.

As with most vaccines, some people may experience mild symptoms in the days after having a COVID-19 vaccination. This can include a sore arm, mild fever or generally feeling unwell. A small number of people have had an allergic reaction after being vaccinated, but this is very rare and can be safely managed.

Prevention, treatment and cure

Are the drugs used in antiretroviral treatment for HIV effective against COVID-19?

FACT: There is currently no evidence that antiretroviral drugs used in HIV treatments can treat or prevent COVID-19.

If you’re living with HIV, you should continue taking your antiretroviral treatment to protect your immune system. You will also need to follow the general prevention advice for COVID-19, as there’s no evidence that antiretroviral treatment for HIV provides any immunity to COVID-19.

It’s also important that you don’t share your HIV drugs with anyone else who has COVID-19 or is worried about getting it. These should only be taken if prescribed by a doctor.

Are anti-malaria drugs effective against COVID-19?

FACT: There’s currently no evidence that antimalarial drugs can treat or prevent COVID-19.

The main clinical trial trying to find an effective treatment for COVID-19 stopped it’s investigation into the anti-malarial drug, hydroxychloroquine, in summer 2020. This was after it found no evidence that the drug could prevent people from needing ventilation or dying, or speed up their recovery.

Other trials are currently ongoing to find an effective treatment against COVID-19.

Can COVID-19 be passed on in warm sunny weather?

FACT: You can get COVID-19 no matter how sunny and warm it is. Exposing yourself to the sun or high temperatures does not prevent or treat COVID-19. So, whatever the weather you should follow the official advice to protect yourself from the virus.

Getting out into the sunshine, if you can, is still a good idea as this helps your body produce vitamin D which is important for your immune system.

Can hot drinks stop COVID-19?

FACT: There is no drink, hot or cold, that will protect you from coronavirus or cure the illness. Most people who get COVID-19 recover by themselves. Taking paracetamol, drinking lots of liquids, and getting enough rest can help you manage your symptoms.

Should I use a strong disinfectant to clean my hands and body to protect myself from COVID-19?

FACT: You shouldn’t use strong disinfectant to clean your body. Washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water or rubbing an alcohol-based sanitizer on them will stop the virus from being passed on. Using stronger chemicals on your skin can be dangerous. Never drink disinfectant or hand sanitizer as this can do serious damage.

Can drinking alcohol cure or prevent COVID-19?

FACT: Drinking alcohol doesn’t cure or prevent COVID-19. In fact, drinking alcohol can weaken your immune system. It’s recommended that adults limit their alcohol intake to stay healthy.

Drinking high strength ethanol, as found in some cleaning products or hand sanitizers, can be very dangerous. You must not consume these products. They will not protect you from COVID-19 and instead drinking these products could cause disability or death.

Scientists discover tiny antibody that completely neutralises novel coronavirus

 Scientists, including one of Indian origin, have isolated the smallest biological molecule to date that they say completely and specifically neutralises the SARS-CoV-2 virus which causes COVID-19.

The molecule is ten times smaller than a full-sized antibody, the molecule has been used to construct a drug - known as AbS -- for potential use as a therapeutic and prophylactic against SARS-Cov-2 - according to the study published in the journal Cell.

For more details, please click here

DCGI gives nod to Serum institute to restart phase 2,3 trials for covid 19 vaccine

 The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has allowed Serum Institute of India (SII) to restart its phase two and three clinical trials for Covid-19 vaccine after the pharma major submitted the recommendations of the Data Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB), UK and DSMB India and requested permission to restart enrollment in the subject clinical trial of the vaccine being developed by AstraZeneca and Oxford University.

More details at the Times of India website..

Corona Virus updates as on 15th sept 2020 in India - Maharashtra tops in daily average deaths

Coronavirus India News LIVE Updates: Total confirmed cases have risen to 49.3 lakh. India’s COVID-19 recovery rate stands at 78.28 percent

Today is 170th day since India has implemented nationwide lockdown to contain Corona virus pandemic.  Total corona virus cases recorded as on today in India is 49,30,236 confirmed cases with 80,770 deaths.  Highest number of cases were recorded in Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.  And the infections are rising rapidly in states like Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.  Even then India's recovery rate is rising and now stands at 78.28 percent.

Unlock 4.0 is underway now in India.  Globally there are 2.91 crores of confirmed Covid-19 cases as on today.  More than 9.26 lakhs people died so far all over the world.

News reference : This link

'Baahubali' director SS Rajamouli, family test positive for Covid-19

'Baahubali' director SS Rajamouli and his family have tested positive for Covid-19, the 46-year-old said in a tweet.

Taking to Twitter to share the news of his diagnosis, the film-maker said that they had got themsleves tested after developing a mild fever that has since subsided. He said that none of them had any major symptoms, and were isolating at home, "following all the precautions and instructions".