State launches vax drive for pregnant women in Cuddalore

The state on Saturday began vaccinations for pregnant women following the Centre’s nod for the drive.
“The vaccination drive targeting pregnant women may have commenced for the first time in the country at Pennadam in Cuddalore district,” health minister Ma Subramanian told reporters after the formal launch of the drive on Saturday morning.
On reports of shortage of vaccines in Coimbatore and Erode, the minister said the shortage was not limited to just two regions but was prevalent throughout TN two days ago. “Our vaccine quota for June was 42 lakh. We administered the vaccines expeditiously and the Union government gave us an additional five lakh doses. Our quota for July is 71 lakh. There was a delay in supply between June last week and July first week leading to a shortage for two or three days. Now supply has resumed, and we have started dispatching the vaccine to all parts of the state,” he said.
To a query, the minister said the state did not under-report Covid deaths and maintained that there was no necessity to do so. He said there shouldn’t be any third wave, but the state has made all preparations in case there is.
The minister said the death certificate of Covid-19 victims do not have a mention on the cause of death but added that if needed relatives can obtain a separate certificate mentioning the cause of death. “The death certificate never mentions the cause of death. It is not in practice,” he said.
He said the public health authorities have administered 1.5 crore doses of vaccine until Friday night.
He said chief minister M K Stalin directed officials to not decrease the number of RTPCR tests even if the rate of incidence of the infection decreases.