NE NEWS SERVICE
CHENNAI, DEC 26
The Tamil Nadu government on Sunday said it has initiated the preparatory work to administer COVID-19 vaccines to children aged 15 to 18 years.The statement comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that COVID-19 vaccination for those in the age group of 15-18 years will start from January 3, 2022.
After inspecting the 16th Mega vaccination camp underway in over 50,000 camps across the state, Minister for Medical and Family Welfare Ma Subramanian noted that there are 33.20 lakh kids aged 15 to 18 years in Tamil Nadu.
“The vaccination for these children will commence in January 3 and they will be administered doses at schools and also by holding special camps,” he told reporters.
#Omicron தொற்று பரவாமல் தடுப்பதற்கான அனைத்து முன்னெச்சரிக்கை நடவடிக்கைகளையும் முடுக்கிவிட்டுள்ள அதேவேளையில், அஞ்சுவது அஞ்சலே அறிவார்ந்த செயல் என்பதால் அதனை எதிர்கொள்ளத் தயாராக இருப்பதற்கான ஏற்பாடுகளை ராஜீவ் காந்தி அரசு பொது மருத்துவமனை மற்றும் DMS வளாகத்தில் ஆய்வு செய்தேன். pic.twitter.com/RUMnkj54fZ
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) December 26, 2021
Referring to the booster dose of vaccine to front-line workers as announced by the Centre, Subramanian said there are 1.40 crore such workers who would receive the jab on January 10.
Meanwhile, the Minister said over 100 people who came in contact with the 22 active Omicron cases in the state were detected with symptoms of the new variant of coronavirus and they were placed under “isolation”.
“All of them are doing well,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Chief Minister M K Stalin inspected the wards that have been set up at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital to treat patients infected by Omicron strain, official sources said.
On TN’s COVID vaccination coverage, the Health Minister said the department has inoculated 8.14 crore people of which 84.87 percent comprise first dose while 55.85 percent second.
“At the national level the 88.59 percent of population have received the first dose of vaccination,” he said. Vaccination commenced across the country on January 16.
Appealing to the members of the public to wear a face mask and follow Covid-19 safety norms while in public, Subramanian said those who violate the protocols were “penalised”.
“Such a situation should change and people should adhere to the government laid standard operating procedures,” he added.
Recoveries breach 27-lakh mark
Tamil Nadu added 610 fresh coronavirus infections on Sunday, pushing the total caseload to 27,44,037 while the toll mounted to 36,735 with 10 more deaths.Recoveries outnumbered new infections with 679 people getting discharged in the last 24 hours, aggregating to 27,00,673 leaving 6,629 active cases, a medical bulletin said.
A total of 1,00,284 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, pushing the cumulative number of specimens examined to 5.69 crore.
The state capital, which has been witnessing an upward trend in daily cases, accounted for the majority of new infections among districts with 171 cases. Chennai was followed by Coimbatore 89, Chengalpet 48 and Erode 45 while the remaining was scattered across other districts.
As many as 25 districts reported less than 10 new infections, while Mayiladuthurai, Theni recorded nil cases, the bulletin said.
According to the government bulletin, of the total 34 Omicron cases reported in the state, 12 were discharged following which 22 are currently under treatment. Among those who tested positive, eight of them were returnees from the UAE, Kenya and Ghana.
