CHENNAI: After 3.26 lakh people got their shots on Saturday, the cumulative tally of vaccination doses in Tamil Nadu crossed 1 crore.
According to the immunisation wing, at least 21 % of people above the age of 45 years have got at least one dose of the vaccine and 7% have completed the course.
In the 18-44 years, 5% of the population have taken the first dose in government vaccination centres so far.
Over the last one week, vaccinations in the state slowed as many districts did not have adequate stock.
On Saturday, Tamil Nadu received 4.26 lakh doses —1.26 lakh doses of Covaxin and 3 lakh doses of Covishield — which were dispatched to districts by late evening.
Since June 1, the state has received 13.3 lakh doses and is expecting another 29.2 lakh doses by the end of the month.
“We are attempting to vaccinate as many people before any (further) outbreaks,” said joint director (immunisation) Dr K Vinay Kumar.
Health minister Ma Subramanian said the state has been lobbying with the Centre for more vaccines so the number of vaccinations does not come down.
Chief minister M K Stalin wrote to the Centre seeking 50 lakh doses, he said.
“He will soon speak to PM Modi directly for more vaccines,” Subramanian told reporters after inspecting the vaccination drive at Koyambedu Market Complex, an erstwhile hotspot .
So far, the state has received1.1 crore doses of the vaccine and has used 1.01 crore doses.
With an increase in the number of people turning up for vaccinations, the daily vaccine wastage has dropped to almost nil.
The overall wastage came down to less than 2% from nearly 8.3% in March.
“In the first three months more than 3 lakh doses were wasted.
In the last two months, there was an increase in the number of people taking the vaccine.
This brought down the wastage,” he said.
In addition to the vaccines at government centres, 3.59 lakh people have taken the vaccine from private centres since May1.