A vial of Covishield.
Experts say hesitancy is not abnormal and the vaccines are important to contain the virus, and are scientifically proven
It has been a fortnight since the two COVID-19 vaccines Covishield and Covaxin were rolled out in Tamil Nadu. A total of 88,467 healthcare providers/workers have so far received the vaccines.
Sensing the hesitancy among the medical fraternity over the safety and efficacy of the vaccines, Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar and Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan took Covaxin, which is yet to see many takers, as a confidence-building measure. Yet, vaccination continues to be slow-paced in the State, which ranks low on coverage among large States.
Express News Service
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government is mulling giving the COVID-19 vaccine to elderly people in the second phase, along with frontline workers, from February 1.
Addressing reporters here at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, Health Secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan said that the state has communicated to the Centre in this regard, asking whether they could vaccinate willing elderly people along with frontline workers.
“We have given this opinion to the Centre and will take a decision based on their reply,” he said. He also said experts were of the opinion that the vaccine could be given to the elderly along with frontline workers, instead of making them wait for the third phase.
Kallakurichi and Perambalur see no new case; 19 districts record under 10 each As many as 523 persons tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday, taking the State’s tally to 8,35,803, even as 595 persons were discharged after treatment. With this, 8,18,742 persons have been discharged so far. The State recorded five deaths, pushing the toll to 12,325.
Currently, 4,736 persons are undergoing treatment. A total of 6,93,945 persons aged between 13 and 60 have contracted the infection. As many as 1,11,711 persons aged over 60 and 30,147 aged below 12 have been infected.
Chennai recorded 168 cases and 192 persons were discharged after treatment. Two persons succumbed to the infection, while 1,616 persons are currently undergoing treaetment. Till date, 2,30,522 persons have tested positive for the infection and 2,24,818 have been discharged. Chennai’s toll stands at 4,088 in the district.