As part of lending support to the mission of curbing the COVID-19 spread, the tech giant WhatsApp has added a new feature to help users locate COVID-19 vaccine centre nearer to them.
The MyGov Corona Helpdesk chatbot through WhatsApp provides the information of vaccine centres nearer to the users via automated chat within the app. The social media platform, owned by Facebook, had launched chatbot in April 2020. It has added the new feature of late to find the nearest vaccination centre.
To avail of the facility, all that a WhatsApp user needs to do is save the number 9013151515 in their iOS or Android phone and send a 'hi', 'hello' or 'namaste' message.
The user will receive an automated response and will ask him or her to feed the six-digit PIN code of the area. When the user enters the PIN code the chatbot will provide a list of vaccination centres near her.
The chatbot can also be used through WhatsApp Web or Desktop by clicking on the link, wa.me/919013151515.
WhatsApp's head Will Cathcart tweeted that the social messaging platform had partnered with healthcare workers in India in order to operate the helpline.
