Online and SMS based appointment system launched to roll out 2nd dose of AstraZeneca vaccinations

The Information and Communication Technology Agency (ICTA), in close collaboration with The National Operations Centre for Prevention of COVID-19 Outbreak (NOCPCO), the Ministry of Health, The Office of the Provincial Directors of Health Services-Western Province, the Telecom Regulatory Commission (TRC), and mobile operators; launched an online and SMS-based appointment system available from August 1 onwards.

The vaccination drive was initiated to ensure streamlined delivery of the second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and targets those residing in the Colombo, Gampaha, and Kaluthara Districts. Eligible citizens can schedule an online appointment at https://vaccine.covid19.gov.lk or via SMS, the ICTA agency said in a statement.

To register via SMS, the following commands can be typed (without quotes) and send to 1906

Step 1: Send “districts” - to receive a list of District Codes where active vaccinations are carried out

Step 2: Send the code for your district e.g. “COL” to receive a list of active MOH Area Codes

Step 3: Send the code for your MOH Area e.g. “COL2” to receive a list of active Vaccination Cen-ter Codes

Step 4: To register for your 1st dose of Vaccination, please send a message in the below format.

<NIC><SPACE><VACCINATION CENTRE CODE>

To register for your 2nd dose of Vaccination, please send a message in the below format (<MM.DD> should be the date you received your 1st dose).

<NIC><SPACE><MM.DD><SPACE><VACCINATION CENTRE CODE>

Once successfully registered, they will receive a system-generated reference code. One can present themselves at the respective vaccination center at the given time and submit the reference to the vaccination center.

Commenting on this initiative, Professor Lalith Gamage, Chairman Information and Communication Technology Agency of Sri Lanka, stated, “we have worked closely with the Telecom Regulatory Commission, and mobile operators to offer this timely initiative via SMS. Mobile operators; Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka Telecom PLC (SLTMobitel), Hutchison Telecommunications Lanka, and Airtel Lanka (Pvt) Ltd were key to support this initiative. We want to thank these institutions for coming on board to support this initiative and we are hopeful the eligible public will make use of this hassle free service.”

In addition, the system also facilitates the acquisition of an internationally recognised certificate for those who have received both doses of Covid-19 vaccine.

Elaborating on this, Hiranya Samarasekera, Chief Technology Officer, Information and Communica-tion Technology Agency of Sri Lanka said: “Information obtained from the public at the Covid-19 vaccination centers are referred to an information system maintained by the Ministry of Health. After that, those who have received both doses of the vaccine can download a certificate through this system.” This Smart Vaccination Certificate will be made available for online down-loads soon via the same Citizen Portal.

“This will make it easier to find the person’s name, age, National Identity Card (NIC) number, date of Vaccination, type of vaccine, and batch number. The uniqueness of this certificate is that the authenticity of that can be verified from anywhere in the world through the QR Code.”