Chennai, June 10 (IANS)

Tamil Nadu will hold a mega vaccination camp in the state on June 12. The state will have 1 lakh centres to conduct vaccination, the state health department in a statement said.

1.64 crore people in Tamil Nadu are yet to take the vaccine in the state and the state public health department is planning to bring in maximum number of people to the vaccination camps during the mega inoculation camp. The state has already commenced the use of television, radio and newspapers to advertise the mega vaccine camps and the necessity to take the jab.

Popular Tamil television stars are also roped in for spreading awareness on camp through television, radio and social media on the necessity of vaccination, given the slight increase in the number of Covid -19 cases across the country.

The state public health department also said that it has 99, 56,665 doses of vaccine in stock and that this would be enough for the mega vaccine camps to be held on June 12, Sunday.

The health department has already prepared a list of people who are yet to take the vaccine and now the onus will be on the health workers at the Primary health centres to conduct door to door campaigns among those who are to take the vaccine to take the jab.

The department also said that the second dose of vaccines to school-going children in the age group of  12-14 will be given once the schools in the state reopen after the summer vacations. Most of the schools in the state are scheduled to open on June 13.

State health minister Ma Subramanian while speaking to IANS said, “The state government is conducting a mega vaccine camp on June 12, Sunday against Covid -19. There will be 1 lakh centres for the people to avail vaccination and I appeal to the people of the state and those who have not taken the jab to make use of the opportunity and get themselves inoculated. “

The minister when asked about the rising number of cases said that the government will not go for stringent measures due to the slight increase in Covid -19 cases. He however said that the people must adhere to Covid -19 protocols and have already directed the state health department, revenue department and state police to strictly monitor and implement Covid -19 protocols among the people.

He said that people must wear masks, maintain social distancing and sanitise regularly as also wash their hands properly.