Chennai: Administering of Covid-19 vaccination for the children in the 12 to 14 age group was rolled out in Tamilnadu on Wednesday.
Health Minister Ma Subramanian and School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi launched the vaccination at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School at Ashok Nagar in the city. Parents have been informed about the vaccination programme held at schools and their consent obtained, Subramanian added.
Deputy Directors of Health Services kick-started the vaccination in their respective districts. The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine has issued necessary guidelines for the officials.
A total of 21,21,000 children are eligible for vaccination in the State.
Corbevax, a vaccine manufactured by Biological E Limited was administered for this age group.
The second dose will be administered to this age gorup children after a gap of 28 days.
The State has received 21,60,000 doses of Corbevax from the Union government. The doses were allotted to the 10 Regional Vaccine Stores (RVS). Of this, Chennai RVS was allotted 3,71,800 doses, while Coimbatore RVS was allotted 2,68,100. The DDHS of the 10 RVS were instructed to receive and distribute the vaccines to the respective District Vaccine Stores.
The Covid vaccination drive commenced in the State on 16 January last year under which people in the age group of 18 and above were given jabs.
About 5.33 crore (91.92 per cent) people have taken their first dose and 4.31 crore (74.54 per cent) have taken the second dose, Health department officials said.
About 28 lakh children in the 15-18 age group have taken their first dose constituting 84 per cent, while 18 lakh children (56 per cent) have taken their second dose. Over seven lakh people have also been given the booster doses so far.