24x7 vaccination centres open across Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: The government on Monday launched round-the-clock centres in medical colleges and government hospitals across the state to increase the pace of vaccination against Covid-19.
Inaugurating a facility at Omandurar Government Hospital in Chennai, health minister Ma Subramanian termed it the first such attempt in the country towards vaccinating the maximum population amid apprehensions of a third wave. “It will benefit those who frequently travel for occupational reason. The flexible timing will particularly help those who give lame excuses of not having time out of their work for vaccination,” he said. The first of these centres, set up in 55 places across the state, was opened by chief minister M K Stalin at the DMS complex in Chennai on Saturday.

Besides 36 government medical college hospitals, district headquarter hospitals have also been integrated under the special drive. In Coimbatore, such centres have been opened in 10 places including Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital (CMCH) and ESI hospital.
Opening the centre at CMCH, collector G S Sameeran said 20.88 lakh covid doses had been administered so far to people in Coimbatore. These centres will further speed up the vaccination drive in the district. A total of 126 people were vaccinated on the first day at the CMCH from the 350 doses made available. CMCH dean A Nirmala said that preference will be given to the frontline workers, pregnant woman and lactating mothers.
While the centre was inaugurated in Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government hospital in Trichy, in Madurai, the Government Rajaji Hospital Covid-19 vaccination centre, which is currently located in Elango Corporation School, was made functional. It is among the largest Covid-19 vaccination centres in the state and also has vaccinated the highest number of beneficiaries in a single centre in the state.
GRH dean Dr A Rathinavel said that enough stock of Covid-19 vaccine had been available. A similar centre was inaugurated in the Theni Government Hospital by collector M V Muralidharan. Speaking at the inauguration of the centre, the collector said that 3,97,421 people had been vaccinated in Theni district till date.