Chennai, March 17 (BPNS)

Tamil Nadu Public health department in association with local bodies and school education department will vaccinate 21.2 lakh children in the age group of 12-15 years age group.

The state health minister Ma Subramanian in a statement on Thursday said that the school authorities and health department must ensure that the children should be inoculated only after receiving consent letter from parents.

Minister said that with the Covid 19 fresh and active cases falling in the state, the vaccination for children in 12-15 age group can be conducted in schools itself.  He said that the state was able to undertake 84.5% coverage in children in the age group of 15-18 as the state health department was able to conduct mass vaccination drives in schools.

Ma Subramanian while speaking to BPNS said, “ The vaccines will be offered free of cost but will not be available at other government vaccination centres. We have more than 21.6 lakh doses of vaccine which is more than the target.”

The minister also said that the state has around 14 lakh, elderly citizens, above the age of 60 who are eligible for a precautionary dose of vaccine or booster dose. The government has announced a precautionary vaccine for those above 60 and without comorbidities.

It is to be noted that till now people above the age of 60 who have comorbidities were earlier eligible for precautionary vaccine but now vaccination is open for anyone who is above 60 years.