Madurai, Jan 16 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi

K.Palaniswami on Saturday launched the first phase of

COVID-19 vaccination drive across the State.

The first vaccination shot was administered to Dr.K.Senthil,

State President of Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association

in the presence of Mr Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister

O Panneerselvam, Health Minister Dr C Vijayabaskar and

state ministers at the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH)

here, after Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the

first phase of the pan-India roll out of the vaccination

against corona virus via video conferencing.

Dr.J.A.Jayalal, National President of Indian Medical

Association, Dr.J.Sangumani, Dean of the GRH were among

several doctors and healthcare workers who took the

vaccination.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr.Palaniswami said the State

had received 5,56,500 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, including

5,36,500 doses of Covishield and 20,000 doses of Covaxin.

The vaccines will be administered at 166 centres across

the State.

He said the vaccines would be administered to healthcare

workers as per the guidelines and six lakh of them had

been identified in the first phase.

Two doses of the vaccine would be given in a 28-day interval.

Mr Palaniswami appealed to the people to trust the indigenously

manufactured vaccine and said the government has given approval

only after proper scientific examination and hence there was

no need for unnecessary worry.

Doctors have volunteered to get the inoculation to help dispel

the rumours, he added.

The State government has made elaborate arrangements as per the

Centre’s guidelines for administration of the vaccines.

In Chennai, the vaccination drive was launched at the Rajiv

Gandhi Government General Hospital and other private hospitals.

Dr Vijayabaskar said many doctors had volunteered themselves

to get vaccinated. Frontline workers have been enumerated and

based on their willingness, the vaccines would be administered.

He said 10 leading doctors of the State had volunteered to get

themselves vaccinated for which approval from the Centre had

been obtained to infuse confidence among the public about the

vaccine and to dispel rumours.

After the first phase during which healthcare workers would be

vaccinated, frontline workers from other departments such as

the police would be identified and vaccinated in a phased

manner, he said.

UNI GSM-GV 1252