In what comes as a major breather for the people amid the coronavirus restrictions, the Central government has launched a new feature under which the citizens can get their Covid-19 vaccine certificates on their phones with just a simple text on WhatsApp.
The Union Health Ministry on Sunday said anyone who wants to download the vaccination certificate can send a WhatsApp message to the government’s official ‘Corona Helpdesk’ number and will get the certificate in seconds.
The beneficiaries can now get the Covid-19 vaccine certificate through MyGov Corona Helpdesk in three easy steps.
“Revolutionising common man’s life using technology! Now get COVID-19 vaccination certificate through MyGov Corona Helpdesk in 3 easy steps. Save contact number: +91 9013151515 Type & send ‘covid certificate’ on WhatsApp Enter OTP Get your certificate in seconds,” Office of Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya posted on Twitter.
The Union Health Ministry also informed that more than 52.37 crore vaccine doses have been provided to the states and Union Territories through all sources so far, adding a further 8,99,260 doses are in the pipeline.
“Of this, the total consumption including wastages is 50,32,77,942 doses (as per data available at 8 AM today),” the Union Health Ministry said in a release.
The Health Ministry further said more than 2.42 crore balance and unutilized Covid vaccine doses are still available with the states and Union Territories and private hospitals to be administered.
The government began the new phase of its Covid-19 vaccination programme on June 21 and has ramped up the drive by providing more vaccines, advancing the visibility of vaccine availability to states and Union territories for enabling better planning by them and streamlining the supply chain.
India on Sunday reported 39,070 cases of Covid-19 and 491 related fatalities in the last 24 hours, taking the over tally to 31,934,455 and the death toll to 427,862. There are 406,822 active cases of Covid-19 in the country, according to the Union health ministry.