Vaccination coverage to increase when cases surge more: Health dept

Despite the increasing cases of COVID-19 in Tamil Nadu for the past few weeks, the daily vaccinations stay below 50,000, except for the mass vaccination drive. Experts stress on intensifying the drive across the State.

Officials at State Health Department are hoping that daily vaccinations would increase when cases surge further.

The first week of June saw average daily vaccination of about 25,000, followed by 27,000 the next week. The mega vaccination drive contributed to the overall coverage in June, as about 13.90 lakh people were vaccinated. However, after the drive, the numbers did not cross 50,000 in a day.

“Increase in cases is likely to make people take vaccination more seriously. After being close to 25,000 daily vaccinations earlier this month, now about 40,000 people are getting vaccinated in a day,” said an official from the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.

At least 94% people have been vaccinated with first dose and 83% have received both doses. As many as 42 lakh persons have not been vaccinated with the first dose and 1.20 crore persons are yet to get vaccinated with the second dose. The State Health Department is planning to conduct the next drive in July and promote special camps to vaccinate more people.

“We’ve planned to conduct mega vaccination camps every month at all government hospitals medical colleges and other government institutions. When compared to the previous month, there’s a rise in cases, and so, daily vaccinations should also be increased. The district health officials are also instructed to follow up with people and get them vaccinated and make sure that eligible people get their booster dose,” says Health Secretary P Senthilkumar.

After being close to 25,000 daily vaccinations earlier this month, now about 40,000 people are getting vaccinated in a day — Senior official from DPH