CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu has been allotted at least 1.4 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines for September by the central government, nearly double the doses supplied in August, health minister Ma Subramanian said on Tuesday. This means, the average number of vaccinations will be at least 5 lakhs everyday through September, he said.
Tamil Nadu was allotted 52 lakh doses in June, 55 lakh in July and 57 lakh in August, he told reporters during a press conference at the ESI hospital in Aynavaram. In July and August, the state received additional doses, taking the total supply to 72 lakh and 92 lakh. In August the average number of vaccinations in a day was 2.7 lakh a day compared to 2.1 lakh in July and 1.9 lakh in June.
According to the immunisation division of the public health department, the state has used nearly 96% of doses government centres have been allotted so far. Of the 3.13 crore doses — including 45 lakh covaxin — the state has used 2.99 crore doses. With this nearly 39% of adults have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 10% of them have completed the course with two doses. In August, the state has given more than 85 lakh dose — nearly 30% of the total doses.
Of the 29 crore adults in Chennai 47% have received the first dose and 21% have completed two doses. On Tuesday, the Greater Chennai Corporation said it will soon increase its permanent vaccination centres to 200. Now, they vaccinate about 30,000 people every day across 45 centres and several other mobile vaccination camps and special drives. “We vaccinated more than 1.25 lakh in a day at 400 centres. This has encouraged us to open 200 vaccination centres. Instead of higher secondary schools we will use the corporation primary health centres, hospitals and amma clinics for this,” said deputy commissioner, revenue, Vishu Mahajan of the GCC. “At least three colleges will be selected every day for vaccination,” he said.
Among other cities, Coimbatore, Trichy and Madurai have vaccinated 47, 39 and 33% of its population with one dose. While 13% of Coimbatore have taken two doses, Trichy and Madurai have vaccinated nearly 10% of its population with two doses.
Nilgiris has vaccinated 68% of its population with at least one dose, followed by Poonamallee (50%) and Virudhunagar (49%). Tirunelveli and Tuticorin have vaccinated 29% of the population.
