Covid-19 vaccination dos and don'ts, how to get your vaccine certificate and more

As India races to contain the second wave of Covid-19, there have been growing calls from experts to open up the coronavirus vaccination drive for all age groups. Right now, only people above the age of 45 years are eligible to receive the Covid-19 vaccine.

The number of Covid-19 shots administered in the country has crossed eight crore, with vaccine hesitancy levels coming down considerably and more people now willing to take the jab. India aims to cover 250 million people by July. The government has maintained that very few adverse events have been reported so far -- a sign that the Covid-19 vaccination drive is going on more or less smoothly.

So far, India has given emergency approval to two Covid-19 vaccines -- Covaxin of Bharat Biotech, Covishield of Oxford-AstraZeneca (being manufactured by the Serum Institute of India), and Sputnik V, which has been developed by Russia's Gamaleya Institute.

Getting a Covid-19 vaccine is imperative. But we're sure you have some questions about what you should do and what you should avoid before and after getting your vaccine shot. Read on, as we explain Covid-19 vaccinations dos and don'ts and answer some other common questions.

- What should I do before taking the Covid-19 vaccine?

- What should I do after taking the Covid-19 vaccine?

- Can I drink alcohol after Covid-19 vaccination?

- Can I choose the Covid-19 vaccine that I want to receive?

- How do I get my Covid-19 vaccination certificate?

- How do I download my Covid-19 vaccine certificate?

What should I do before taking the Covid-19 vaccine?

- People who were infected with coronavirus in the last one-and-a-half months or have received blood plasma therapy or monoclonal antibodies must refrain from taking the vaccine.

- A person with allergies to any specific medication should get clearance from a doctor before taking the vaccine. The Serum Institute of India has advised that people severely allergic to any ingredient of Covishield vaccine should not take it.

- Pregnant and lactating mothers should not receive Covid-19 vaccine as they have not been part of any clinical trial so far.

- Eating healthy and staying relaxed before getting the vaccine is of utmost importance.

What should I do after taking the Covid-19 vaccine?

- After receiving the Covid-19 shot, a beneficiary is monitored at the vaccination centre itself for up to 30 minutes to observe any adverse event following immunisation (AEFI).

- You may experience certain side effects of the vaccine like fever, pain at the injection site and fatigue, but there is no reason to panic. These side effects go away in a few days.

- In case the discomfort persists, the beneficiary should visit the nearest health facility and/or call the health worker whose phone number is given in the Co-WIN SMS received after vaccination.

- Protective levels of antibodies generally develop two-three weeks after receiving the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine. Thus, it is absolutely necessary to continue following Covid-19 appropriate behaviour like wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, and hand sanitisation.

Can I drink alcohol after Covid-19 vaccination?

Yes, you can consume alcohol after vaccination. The Union Health Ministry says that there is no evidence of alcohol impairing the effectiveness of Covid-19 vaccine. Even experts globally have opined that liquor does not affect the development of antibodies.

Can I choose the Covid-19 vaccine that I want to receive?

At present, the option of choice of vaccine is not available. Moreover, Covid-19 vaccines are not interchangeable, and a beneficiary will receive the second dose of same vaccine as the first one.

How do I get my Covid-19 vaccination certificate?

You can download a provisional vaccination certificate after you have got the first vaccine shot. The certificate will contain name, date of birth, beneficiary reference ID, photo, vaccine name, hospital name, date and other details. You can download the vaccination certificate from the Co-WIN portal (cowin.gov.in) or the Aarogya Setu app.

On completion of the second dose, you will receive a message for completion of the vaccination schedule. The message will include a link to download a digital certificate of vaccination. This certificate can also be saved in the DigiLocker mobile app, a platform to store e-copies of vital documents like driving license, Aadhaar card.

How do I download my Covid-19 vaccine certificate?

- Open the Aarogya Setu app and use the same mobile number that was used during vaccine registration to log in.

- Tap on the Co-Win tab and then on the Vaccination Certificate option.

- Enter your beneficiary reference ID and tap on the 'Get Certificate' option.

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