New Delhi: It is now possible to download COVID 19 vaccine directly from WhatsApp. The Central government-managed MyGov Corona Helpdesk on WhatsApp has rolled out a new feature to let users download their COVID 19 vaccine directly from the messaging platform.
Launched in March last year, the chatbot aims to curb misinformation related to coronavirus and help citizens find various services. It is free to use on WhatsApp. Users can even converse with the bot in Hindi, according to a News18 report.
In May, the MyGov Corona Helpdesk WhatsApp chatbot added a feature to find the nearest vaccine and test centres directly on the Facebook-owned messaging platform.
Here’s how to do it
- To download the COVID 19 vaccine certificate from WhatsApp, save the number 9013151515, preferably as My Gov Corona Helpdesk on your Android or iOS smartphone.
- Open the chat, and send “download certificate.” If the number is linked with the CoWIN platform, the chatbot will ask for the six-digit OTP (one-time password) that could take up to 30 seconds to receive.
- After the OTP is accepted, the chatbot will confirm the candidate’s name.
- Select the option, and users will get the certificate in less than a minute.
- The MyGov Corona Helpdesk will not let users download certificates for others whose vaccine slots were booked via another mobile number.
- If you registered for COVID 19 vaccine under a different mobile number, make sure that the WhatsApp app is registered with the same number.
What MyGov Corona Helpdesk WhatsApp chatbot can do for you
- It lets users find centres and authentic information, alerts on coronavirus, professional advice, facts checker, and important phone numbers.
- Users can also find COVID 19 vaccine centres nearest to their location via the WhatsApp bot.
- First, send ‘hi’ to the chatbot and wait for the options to appear.
- Then, select the option for centres and provide a pin code. The chatbot will respond with a list of certified vaccination centres that may take some time.