Tamil Nadu to request extension of free booster dose vaccination

CHENNAI: Health Minister Ma Subramanian inaugurated the 38th mega vaccination camp in Virugambakkam on Sunday.

Until 2 pm, about 4.81 lakh vaccines were administered across the State. The vaccination camps are being held at 50,000 locations.

As many as 96.55 per cent of the people in the State have been administered with the first dose of vaccine and 91.39 percent have received the 2nd dose of vaccine.

The Health Minister said that the precautionary booster dose vaccine is also being administered free of charge until September 30th. It is uncertain if the booster dose vaccine will continue to be administered free of charge after September 30 as an announcement is likely to be made in a couple of days.

He said the vaccination camps will be held for 4 to 5 days if the administration of the booster vaccine is made free.

As per earlier announcements, Covid vaccine will be available at medical facilities every Wednesday apart from regular vaccinations being given to women and children at special camp on at sub-health centers, primary health centers, district health centers, district headquarters government hospitals, and medical college hospitals.

Vaccinations for 12 to 14-year-olds and 15 to 17-year-olds will take place in schools on Thursday from October 1.

He said that the even after many awareness programmes, the administration of booster dose has reached only 20.04 per cent.

At least 4.30 crore people are eligible for booster dose vaccination in Tamil Nadu. So far, 86.31 lakh have been vaccinated with booster dose. So, the state will request the Union Government to allow free booster dose vaccine to ensure better precautionary booster dose vaccination coverage.