Here Is How To Get COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate Within Seconds On WhatsApp

New Delhi: With an aim to ease the process of obtaining a vaccination certificate, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) announced on Sunday (August 8) that citizens who have been vaccinated against COVID-19 can now get their vaccination certificate through WhatsApp within seconds. People can access their certificate by sending a text message to MyGov Corona Helpdesk chatbot launched by the Central government last year to create awareness about Covid.

Also Read: India’s Gender Inequity In COVID-19 Vaccination Narrows

Steps To Get Covid Vaccine Certificate On Whatsapp

To get Covid vaccine certificate in seconds, follow these steps:

– Save contact number: +91 9013151515 (the MyGov Corona Helpdesk bot)

– Type and send ‘covid certificate’ on WhatsApp that is active using the number registered for vaccination

– Enter OTP (One Time Password)

– The bot will show all the users registered on the CoWIN website with the number, and ask to type the number of the user whose certificate you wish to download.

– The certificate will be sent on WhatsApp in a PDF format, which users can easily download and print or save for future purposes.

The same steps can be followed for downloading the certificate for other users registered with the same number.

Taking to microblogging site Twitter, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya shared about the new way of downloading Covid vaccine certificate. He said,

Revolutionising common man’s life using technology. Now get COVID-19 vaccination certificate through MyGov Corona Helpdesk in 3 easy steps.

According to the Union Health Ministry, it is an important move as states make certificates mandatory for travel. The certificate could be downloaded after each dose- Provisional Certificate after the first dose and Final Certificate after the second dose.

Also Read: 4 More Indian Pharma Firms Expected To Start COVID Vaccine Production By October-November: Union Health Minister

Shashi Tharoor, senior Congress leader praised this facility introduced by the government. He said on Twitter,

I’ve always acknowledged and praised the government when it merits it. As a critic of Cowin, let me say they’ve done something terrific. Send a WhatsApp message ‘download certificate’ to 9013151515, receive OTP and get your vaccination certificate back by WhatsApp. Simple and fast!

The move was also welcomed by the citizens. Appreciating the new way of downloading the vaccine certificate, Abhijit Kumar Gupta, a Twitter user said,

Great initiative and making life more easy for people. Will there be features to correct certificate in case of any error in personal info details.

Sameer, another user also shared his experience of using WhatsApp for downloading the certificate.

Another user said that it took him only 40 seconds to download the certificate.

However, some people shared that they faced difficulties in accessing their certificate via WhatsApp due to delay in getting the OTP.

Previously, people had to download their vaccination certificate by logging into the CoWIN (Covid Vaccine Intelligence Work) portal either directly or via Arogya Setu App/Umang App. The web link for the COVID-19 vaccination certificate is also available in the Text SMS sent to the beneficiary after vaccination and successful updation of vaccination status in Co-WIN.

Also Read: Explained: What Is A Breakthrough Infection And How To Prevent Catching COVID-19 After Getting Fully Vaccinated

NDTV – Dettol Banega Swasth India campaign is an extension of the five-year-old Banega Swachh India initiative helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. It aims to spread awareness about critical health issues facing the country. In wake of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign highlights the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children to prevent maternal and child mortality, fight malnutrition, stunting, wasting, anaemia and disease prevention through vaccines. Importance of programmes like Public Distribution System (PDS), Mid-day Meal Scheme, POSHAN Abhiyan and the role of Aganwadis and ASHA workers are also covered. Only a Swachh or clean India where toilets are used and open defecation free (ODF) status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and become a Swasth or healthy India. The campaign will continue to cover issues like air pollution, waste management, plastic ban, manual scavenging and sanitation workers and menstrual hygiene.