- You can now find the nearest COVID-19 vaccination centre in India through WhatsApp.
- WhatsApp is using MyGov Corona Helpdesk to provide the COVID-19 vaccination centre information.
- Covid vaccination registration in India has opened for 18+.
On May 1st, 2021, the Government of India started COVID vaccinations for people aged 18 years and above. Up until then, it was available only for people aged above 45 years only. To help people get vaccinated, tech companies, including Google and Microsoft, have come up with ways to show information about the vaccination centres on their search engines. Today, another tech brand has joined the race. India’s most popular instant messaging platform, WhatsApp, can now show you the nearest vaccination centre.
To offer this service, WhatsApp is using the MyGov Corona Helpdesk chatbot that was already available on the messaging platform. Here is a step-by-step process for you to find the nearest vaccination centre using WhatsApp.
Also read: This website will notify you whenever Covid vaccine slots for 18+ open up on Cowin portal
How to find the nearest COVID vaccination centre using WhatsApp
Step 1
Save the +919013151515 number on your smartphone. It belongs to the MyGov Corona Helpdesk from the Government of India.
Step 2
Head to WhatsApp and locate the MyGov Corona Helpdesk contact that you had saved.
Step 3
Send “Namaste” to the MyGov Corona Helpdesk on WhatsApp.
The chatbot will now show you a list of services that it offers and it will ask you to choose an option from the list of services. You will be able to see “COVID Vaccination – Centres and Authentic Information” as the first service. It is that we will select next.
Step 4
Now, send “1” to the MyGov Corona Helpdesk to select “COVID Vaccination – Centres and Authentic Information”
It will show you another list of services. The first service will be named “COVID Vaccination – Centres Related Information,” which is the one you will have to select next.
Step 5
Send “1” once again to the MyGov Corona Helpdesk to select “COVID Vaccination – Centres Related Information.”
The WhatsApp chatbot will now ask you to enter the PIN code of your location.
Step 6
Send your PIN code to MyGov Corona Helpdesk. For example, if your PIN code is 500089, send “500089” to the WhatsApp chatbot.
The MyGov Corona Helpdesk will now show you the list of vaccination centres in your area if there are any.
Along with it, the MyGov Corona Helpdesk on WhatsApp will also send you the link from where you can register yourself for the vaccination and book a slot for the COVID-19 vaccination.
