Common Faq

  • How to get tested if I doubt I have COVID?

Firstly, if you have symptoms of COVID 19/ have a history of a primary contact, have an e-consultation with a doctor. Once have had the consult, the doctor will decide if you need to get a COVID 19 test done. You can get the test done at the hospital nearest to you or the sample can be collected from any sample collecting center. Once your sample has been collected you will need to wait for the result.


  • If I test positive, should I be at home or should I get admitted in the hospital?

Seek advice from your doctor for admission or home isolation. Based on the symptoms, doctor will decide a home isolation/ hospital admission. If you are advised to seek home isolation, then prepare a separate room with possibly separate bathroom facilities to ensure that your family members are not infected. If you are eligible for home isolation, the hospital / the administration would be responsible to inform the local authorities. Once the patient’s contact details are provided to the local authorities, contact tracing team would call the person and family members


  • If I have comorbidities and have no symptoms, then should I get compulsorily admitted in the hospital?

Persons with comorbidities and have no symptoms, does not need compulsory hospital admission. But if they have any mild symptoms if occur, either consult with the treating physician/a tele-medicine facility. Continue the regular medicines according to the instruction by the treating physician. Continue to monitor for warning signs. Monitor the oxygen saturation regularly.


  • Is there any medicine I should have in case of mild symptoms of Covid?

Scientists around the world are working to find and develop treatments for COVID19. There's no specific medication for mild symptoms of Covid 19. But, there are steps you can take to make yourself feel more comfortable despite your uncomfortable symptoms. Getting plenty of rest. Drinking plenty of water. 3 If you have fever, you can take an anti-pyretic like paracetamol tablet, as per the instruction of your doctor/ tele consultation.


  • What kind of food should I eat after testing positive?

Eat fresh and unprocessed food. Eat fruits, vegetables, nuts and whole grains and foods from animal sources (e.g. meat, fish, eggs and milk). Do not overcook vegetables and fruit as this can lead to the loss of important vitamins. Drink enough water every day (2to 4 liters of water). When cooking and preparing food, limit the amount of salt and high-sodium condiments (e.g. soy sauce and fish sauce). Avoid foods (e.g. snacks) that are high in salt and sugar. Limit intake of soft drinks or sodas and other drinks that are high in sugar (e.g. fruit juices, fruit juice concentrates and syrups, flavoured milks and yogurt drinks). Choose fresh fruits instead of sweet snacks such as cookies, cakes and chocolate.


  • How do I avail telemedicine facility sitting at home?

Visit the https://www.esanjeevaniopd.in website and click patient registration button. By entering mobile number and clicking send OTP button, One Time Password (OTP) is sent through SMS. With the OTP Patient registration and token generation page. Patient id and token are sent as SMS to the user. The user is alerted again through a SMS when his turn is close. Now after logging in with patient id again, he/she will be added in queue of patients in the virtual consultation room. When the call now button gets activated, one can press it. Upon pressing the button, the doctor appears on screen in ten seconds. 4 The consultation process is now on and doctor gives an e prescription. This can be downloaded to get medicines from nearby medical shops/hospitals.


  • Should I have Oxygen cylinder at home?

Oxygen is a medicine, It is very important to understand that oxygen can be dangerous if not used correctly. Oxygen is a prescription medication. Administered only the instruction of a registered medical practitioner. No need to keep oxygen cylinder at home. Always check oxygen saturation (SPO2) and inform health professionals for advice.


  • After recovery, what are the precautions I should take?

Recovering from COVID usually takes around 2 weeks (for mild cases) and about a month for people with a serious infection. The body becomes weak after having battled the dangerous virus for so many days. You may feel drained and lethargic, which is quite natural. Even people with mild infection have to be alert in the postinfection stage because post covid symptoms may develop. If any symptoms develop consult the post covid clinic to the nearby health care facility/tele-medicine facility. Take rest Most doctors suggest that after recovery; stay isolated for another 7 days, especially now that some studies have found that even if the symptoms disappear, the virus may still live in the body. If possible, take a week of complete rest after recovery. A wellrested body can focus on healing. Get enough sleep because when the person sleep, his body speeds up the recovery procedure. Do not resume old lifestyle right away. Too much work, stress and anxiety will make the person ill. Have a nutritious diet Food eases the path to recovery. The right kind of food will help to regain the strength back in days. Make sure the diet includes plenty of proteins such as soups, legumes, 5 seeds, nuts, boiled eggs, and chicken stew. Proteins repair the body. Eat small portions for easy digestion. Don’t forget to eat at least 1 fruit a day. Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. Exercise a little every day Exercising may sound unappealing, but it is essential for a speedy recovery. Working out improves blood and oxygen circulation. It helps to detoxify the body. It can also help the brain to produce more happiness hormones which will lift one’s spirits – something that is greatly needed after one have contracted COVID 19. Only exercise as much as you can. Do your favorite kinds of exercise and don’t push yourself too much. 10 minutes a day will suffice. Play a few memory games COVID is known to damage brain and neural cells. To prevent future memory problems, try playing some memory games like Sudoku, mathdoku, crossword, jigsaw, etc. Check blood oxygen level Continue to monitor the blood oxygen saturation level with oxymeter. Even if a person has recovered from COVID 19, there could be lung damage that he don’t know of. If so, the oxygen level will fluctuate and dip below 94. Then definitely need to visit the doctor. Watch out for other symptoms COVID can have long-term consequences for the health. So always be alert. COVID can cause both lung and heart damage. If begin to experience shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, warm flushes, consult a doctor right away. COVID care is essential and should not be ignored. This is a great investment for our future health.


  • Is COVID a fatal disease?

Among those who develop symptoms, most (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing hospital treatment. About 15% become seriously ill and require oxygen and 5% become critically ill and need intensive care. Complications leading to death may include respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), sepsis and septic shock, thromboembolism, and/or multiorgan failure, including injury of the heart, liver or kidneys. In rare situations, children can develop a severe inflammatory syndrome a few weeks after infection


  • If I test positive and my family members also test positive, will there be any assistance for availing food and other essential services?

Yes, Can contact your LSGD/ward member for assistance. Can contact voluntarily supporting groups nearby your place for assistance. Contact NGO’s nearby your place for assistance. Contact district administration/district control rooms/LSGD help desk also for assistance.


  • How do I check if beds are available in hospitals near me?

The state of government of Kerala has a dedicated website that tracks the availability of beds in all districts of the state. One can go to https://covid19jagratha.kerala.nic.in/home/addHospitalDashBoard and check the availability of hospitals. The website also shows the total number of beds, ICU beds, ventilators, oxygen beds, and more. In addition to that one can get information regarding bed availability from the elp desks, DISHA and district call centers.


  • How do I get vaccinated?

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. 7 The first group includes healthcare and frontline workers and all the employees those who are in close contact with public. The second group to receive COVID 19 vaccine will be all the persons over 60 years of age and persons between 45 & 59 years of age with comorbid conditions. Now the vaccination for the age group from 18 years is going to start. Vaccination will be provided free of charge at the Government Health Facilities On payment basis in the Private Health Facilities - rate as decided by the Government of India. Vaccine is available from all health facilities, both Government & Private. Vaccine is available through Online Registration and Appointment & available to the citizens through the COWIN Portal. cowin.gov.in On-site registration is available for the second dose of vaccination


Registration

  1. Where can I register for COVID-19 vaccination?
    You can log into the CoWIN 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 CoWIN portal. Alternatively, you can also register for vaccination through the Aarogya Setu App and Umang app.

  3. Which age groups can register for vaccination on the CoWIN portal?
    All citizens aged 12 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. Beneficiaries aged 45 years and above can schedule appointments online or walk-in to vaccination centres. Beneficiaries aged 18 years and above can schedule appointments online or walk-in to Government vaccination centres. However, beneficiaries aged 18-44 years should mandatorily register themselves and schedule appointment online before going to a Private vaccination centre.
    In general, all beneficiaries 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 CoWIN portal through one mobile number?
    Up to 4 people can be registered for vaccination using the same mobile number.

  6. How can beneficiaries 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. Beneficiaries can take help from friends or family for online registration.

  7. Can I register for vaccination without Aadhaar card?
    Yes, you can register on CoWIN 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)
    h. Unique Disability ID (UDID)
    i. Ration Card

  8. Is there any registration charges to be paid?
    No. There is no registration charge.


Scheduling Appointment

  1. Can I book an appointment for vaccination in the CoWIN portal?
    Yes, you can book appointment for vaccination through CoWIN portal after logging-in to the CoWIN Portal through your registered mobile number.

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

  3. 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.

  4. Can I download appointment slip?
    Yes, the appointment slip can be downloaded after the appointment has been scheduled.

  5. How can I find the nearest vaccination centre?
    You can search in CoWIN portal (or Aarogya Setu or Umang) for the vaccination centre nearest to your location by either searching through Map, PIN code or by choosing the State and the District.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. Can I get vaccination without appointment?
    Beneficiaries aged 45 years and above can schedule appointments online or walk-in to vaccination centres. Beneficiaries aged 18-44 years can schedule appointment or walk-in for vaccination in Government vaccination centre. However, they should mandatorily register themselves and schedule appointment online before vaccination in Private vaccination centres.
    However, all beneficiaries are recommended to register online and schedule vaccination in advance for a hassle-free vaccination experience.

  10. When I click on vaccination centre it shows 'No appointments are available in this period'. What to do?
    In case of no availability of slots for scheduling appointment for vaccination in the searched vaccination centre, you may try scheduling appointment in other nearby centres. The portal gives you the feature of searching vaccination centres using your PIN code and District.

  11. What is the 4-digit secret code on the Account Details page of self-registration portal on CoWIN?
    At the time of vaccination, you may be asked for the 4-digit secret code. This is to ensure that the rightful beneficiary receives the vaccine dosage and there is no misuse.


Vaccine Dose Scheduling

  1. 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.

  2. 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 28 days to 42 days after the 1st dose. The 2nd dose of COVISHIELD should be administered in the interval of 84 days to 112 days after the 1st dose. The second dose of SPUTNIK V should be administered in the interval of 21 days to 90 days after the 1st dose.

  3. Will my 2nd dose appointment be automatically scheduled by CoWIN system?
    No. You have to take an appointment for the 2nd dose vaccination. The CoWIN system will help you book an appointment in a Vaccination Centre where the same vaccine is being administered as the vaccine type (COVAXIN, COVISHIELD or SPUTNIK V) of the 1st dose.

  4. 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 CoWIN software related queries.


Vaccine

  1. Is vaccination free at all vaccination centres?
    No. Currently, vaccination is free at Government hospitals and charged as per the price declared by Private Health facilities on Co-WIN within ceiling limits as Prescribed by Govt of India.
    The Vaccination for people will continue to be free at the Government facilities. Vaccination will be priced by private facilities and you can see the price of each vaccine at the time of booking.

  2. 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.

  3. Can I choose the vaccine?
    System will show the vaccine being administered in each vaccination centre at the time of scheduling an appointment. Beneficiary can choose the vaccination centre as per their choice of vaccine being administered.

  4. What precautions should I take at the time of 2nd dose vaccination?
    The Vaccination Centres have been directed to ensure that if a beneficiary 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 for COVAXIN, 84 days ago for COVISHIELD and 21 days ago for SPUTNIK V. 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.

  5. I have taken the first dose of Covid Vaccination through on-spot registration. When I tried to book a second dose online, it asked me to schedule an appointment for the first dose. What to do?
    Please ensure that you are using the same mobile number for second dose online appointment booking which you had used at the time of first dose.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. I have registered myself on CoWIN 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 CoWIN platform, become active and start their services.

Vaccine Certificate

  1. 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 beneficiary 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 CoWIN has built in security features to guarantee genuineness of the certificate which can be digitally verified using approved utilities which are provided in CoWIN portal.

  2. 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.

  3. Where can I download vaccination certificate from?
    You can download vaccination certificate from the CoWIN 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.

  4. How can I access COVID Vaccination Certificate from DigiLocker?
    You can find vaccination certificate in DigiLocker under Ministry of Health and Family Welfare under Health category. Click on Covid Vaccine certificate and enter Beneficiary Reference ID to access the certificate.


Reporting

  1. 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
    You may also contact the Vaccination Centre where you took vaccination, for advice.