Mega vaccination drive in city: 1.25L people get jab

CHENNAI: Aa many as 400 vaccination camps, including mobile vaccination units, were organised in Chennai on Thursday and 1,25,147 people were vaccinated in 200 wards.

The highest of 12,010 people were vaccinated in the Kodambakkam zone, followed by 11,546 in Thiru-vika Nagar and 10,974 in Teynampet. The lowest number of beneficiaries were in Manali, where 3,350 people were given the vaccine.

Talking about the drive, Health Minister Ma Subramanian said Chennai stands first in COVID vaccination for differently-abled and people above 80 years in the country. Now, the mega vaccination camp has been inaugurated in 200 words and about 1 lakh doses were used in the drive.

As of Wednesday, the vaccine in stock is at about 12 lakh and 2,95,55,000 people have been vaccinated so far in the State. Vaccination has picked up after the launch of 24-hour vaccination centres and more people are being vaccinated on a daily basis, he said.

As many as four lakh people are awaiting the second dose of Covaxin in the State. Officials of the Greater Chennai Corporation said that after the arrival of about 1 lakh Covaxin doses on Wednesday, those awaiting the second dose will get the jab.

The Health Minister said the government is ensuring that people travelling from Kerala to Tamil Nadu are being tested as the number of cases is increasing in the neighbouring State. “The Health Secretary has already instructed the Collectors of the border districts to ensure a strict vigil and ensure vaccination of frequent travellers,” he added.