Ma Subramanian: 4th drive will record over 25L vax in Tamil Nadu

“Though the fourth vaccination camp was originally scheduled on October 10, we advanced the drive to October 3 as we had a stock of 24,98,365 doses in the State. So far, in every mega campaign, we have exceeded the target and we are expecting an increase by two to three per cent on October 3,” said Health Minister Ma Subramanian.

Almost 63% have taken the first dose in TN, and 20% have received both doses. In the third mega vaccination camp, more than 24 lakh were vaccinated. The highest vaccination of 1,42,66,000 doses in September is so far the highest in the State. During the first camp, 28.91 lakh doses were administered, 16.43 lakh in the second and 24.93 lakh in the third camp. Meanwhile, the Greater Chennai Corporation has identified around 4 lakh people who are eligible for second doses on Sunday. Also, according to a Corporation official, SMS alerts are being sent to those whose due date for the second dose is on Sunday. “Apart from this, alerts have also been sent to those who have missed their second doses,” the official said. As per the data, more than three lakh people can take their second dose of Covishield on Sunday and more than a lakh are eligible for Covaxin second dose.

Based on government instruction, the civic body has made arrangements to conduct vaccination camps at 1,600 locations. “We have more than 3.5 lakh doses of Covishield and Covaxin. As most prefer to get inoculated on Sundays, vaccination coverage is higher during the camps,” the official added.

To get more people to get vaccinated at the camps, the Corporation has been distributing booth slips to them. “We have printed a slip similar to the booth slips during elections. When sanitary inspectors visit the houses, they will provide a slip with names, addresses and other details (handwritten) of the residents. The slips will also have the location of the nearest camps,” an official said, adding, more than four lakh slips have been printed.