In India, COVID-19 immunisation registrations began earlier this year. According to government statistics, nearly 46 crore Indians have received their first dose of the vaccine, and more than 13.26 crore residents have received all three doses. The Indian government has now made it possible to reserve COVID-19 immunisation spots on WhatsApp to help streamline the booking procedure. You can use WhatsApp in India to reserve a spot for your COVID-19 vaccine in this post.
Book COVID-19 Vaccination Slots on WhatsApp in India (2021)
1. Add the MyGov Corona Helpdesk chatbot to your contacts list to get going. It can be reached at +91 9013151515. As an alternative, you can reach the chatbot on WhatsApp by using this direct link. You will be taken to WhatsApp when you tap Continue to Chat on the link’s first screen.
Before we continue, I should note that WhatsApp cannot be used to register for the COVID-19 vaccine. Instead, you will need to register and add members on the Cowin website. Basic information must be added, along with a government-issued photo ID. You can read our comprehensive guide on enrolling in the COVID-19 vaccination programme in India.
2. After that, send Book Slot a message and type in the six-digit OTP you were sent through SMS. You should specifically provide the number you used to sign up for the coronavirus vaccine. You will be prompted to provide the registered number if your WhatsApp number is different from the one you used to register with COVID.
3. A list of every user you’ve added to your Cowin account will now appear. Enter the number associated with that member in the WhatsApp message to reserve a vaccination appointment for them. It is 1 in my situation. Tap the Search by pincode button from the following message after selecting the beneficiary to look up a vaccination centre by pincode.
4. You now have the option of viewing either free or paid vaccines, or both. Tap Any to see both free and paid listings. You will also have the option to select the type of vaccination if you are seeking to reserve a time window for your first immunisation.
5. The pincode for your neighbourhood should be entered next. The chatbot will then display the nearby centres that are open along with the dosing schedule and date. To reserve a time slot for your vaccination, type the number next to the date. For instance, send message 2 to the chatbot as seen in the figure below if you want to reserve the time slot for August 25.
6. After that, you will get an SMS confirming your appointment for the India coronavirus vaccination. You can attend the vaccination centre on the designated date and time after receiving confirmation to receive your vaccine dosage.
Use MyGov Corona Helpdesk to Book Vaccination Slots on WhatsApp
So that’s how you can schedule vaccination appointments on WhatsApp using the MyGov Corona Helpdesk chatbot. You can use our advice to download your COVID-19 immunisation certificate via WhatsApp after getting vaccinated. You might also set up alerts by reading our post on how to get a spot at your local COVID-19 immunisation centre and our list of COVID-19 resources in India.
