Blog : Covid-19 Vaccination Experience
Covid-19 Vaccination Experience

 

 

Introduction:

As you all know, Government of India has started the second phase of Covid-19 vaccination.

In this phase the vaccination will be given to

  1. Senior Citizens (aged above 60 years)
  2. Aged above 45 years having co-morbidities

So, we decided to have first dose of vaccination to my mother. She is 66 years old.

There was some fear factor about the side effects of vaccination earlier.

But since country’s entire health workers (Doctors, Para medical staff, Medical staff etc) got vaccination in the first phase, and side effects reported were negligible, my mother was ready to go for vaccination.

 Here is the process we followed.

Online Registration:

  1. Go to https://www.cowin.gov.in/home website
  2. Click on ’Register Yourself’ button
  3. On the next page, enter your valid mobile number. Note that OTP will be sent to this number
  4. Click on ‘Get OTP’ button
  5. Enter the OTP received on your mobile phone and click on ‘Verify’ button
  6. If verification is successful, you can start appointment booking.
  7. Select the Photo ID Proof (You can select any one of these:Aadhar Card, Driving License, PAN Card, Passport, Pension Passbook, NPR Smart Card, Voter ID) . We selected Aadhar Card.
  8. Then enter the number of the selected Photo ID proof. We entered Aadhar card number
  9. Ener the Name as in the id proof
  10. Select the Gender
  11. Enter year of birth as per Photo ID
  12. Click on ‘Add’ button
  13. Then select the location details where you want to have the vaccination. We opted for Apollo Hospital, Sheshadripuram , Bangalore.
  14. Check the available slot
  15. If slot is available, book the appointment. We had 2 options:

Morning (9:00 AM-12 PM) and Afternoon (12:00 PM to 5:00 PM)

  1. Once the appointment is confirmed, you will get the SMS on your registered phone. You can also take the print out ‘Vaccination Appointment Details’ from the website.

Offline registration/ Walk-in:

You can also, directly go the vaccination center (as listed by Government) directly with any of the photo Ids mentioned above. There will be helpdesk in the center to make your registration.

If you are not going to Free (as listed by Government) centers, you need to pay Rs.250 for vaccination. (Rs.150 for Vaccine and Rs.100 for service charges of hospital/center)

Waiting:

We went to Apollo Hospital and 4:00 PM. They gave serial number and asked wait.Waiting area was well ventilated and lot of chairs were available.

Within 15 minutes, they called our number

Verification:

They verified the original Photo ID and let in

Vaccination:

A sister asked about any allergy/surgery history and accordingly gave the injection.

Post vaccination observation:

My mother was asked to wait in the observation area for 30 minutes after the injection was given. She had little headache for some time. Nurse told, its normal to have some headache.

When she felt little Okay, we left to our home.

Side effects after vaccination:

               My mother had pain in the area where injection was given in the arm. It lasted for 3 days.

She also had weakness and body pain. A doctor fiend asked to take Crocin tablets for the same, as it was common to have body pain after Covid-19 vaccination.

 She had body pain for 3 days.

After 4th day, she was started coming back to normal.

There was no fever or chills or omitting or any other side effects.

Overall, there were good arrangements and hospitality was good.

Conclusion:

My mother took the first dose of  Covid-19 vaccination. We had registered online. So it was quicker at the vaccination hospital. Arrangements and hospitality at the vaccination center was good.

There were no major side effects though there were minor effects like body pain and headache. So, based on this experience, you can go ahead and get vaccinated for yourself and your dear ones !