Chennai: With the Union government setting December as deadline to vaccinate all above 18, the Tamilnadu government is said to be planning to complete vaccination process much ahead of it.
Wednesday’s launch of free Covid vaccination in private hospitals with CSR funds is being viewed as an important move towards achieving this.
Tamilnadu has become the first State in India to launch free Covid vaccine drive for the public through private hospitals using Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds from private firms.
Chief Minister M K Stalin launched this pioneering initiative in the city in the presence of Minister for Health and Family Welfare Ma Subramanian, State Health Secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan, Dr S Chandrakumar, Chairman CII Tamilnadu State Council and founder and executive chairman of Kauvery hospital.
The initiative became a reality after the Minister held a meeting with representatives of private hospitals that are empanelled under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme, and with various companies and institutions a few days back.
According to the Minister, the rationale behind this initiative was that private hospitals were not using the vaccines allotted to them fully.
While 75 per cent vaccines manufactured in the country are procured by the Union government, 25 per cent of vaccines are earmarked for private hospitals.
However, private hospitals are not using their total allotment fully. Funds from private firms and institutions were used for buying equipment and improving facilities in hospitals when the State was reeling under Covid-19.
With the Covid-19 situation easing, the government started the unique initiative of using CSR funds for free vaccinations through private hospitals, according to Subramanian.
The State needs 12 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines to administer two doses for its six crore population aged above 18 years.
An official release said, thanks to the government creating more awareness on vaccination. till date 2.15 crore people have been vaccinated.