Coimbatore: Tamil Nadu Health Minister M. Subramaniam on Wednesday said the state is set to become the first in the country to administer Covid-19 vaccines to those aged 2-18 years.


He said the Centre has made a formal announcement on the vaccine and sent the proposal for an expert opinion, adding Tamil Nadu would be the first to administer the vaccine after getting the nod.


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An expert panel of the Central drug authority has, according to sources, recommended granting emergency use authorisation to Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin for children and adolescents in the 2 to 18 years age group with certain conditions, PTI reported.


Covaxin, if approved by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI), would be the second COVID-19 vaccine after Zydus Cadila’s needle-free ZyCoV-D to receive emergency use authorisation for use in those below 18 years.


Subramaniam said Tamil Nadu was also the first in inoculating pregnant women after the Central government announced the scheme for them, adding over five lakh such women have been given the vaccines so far.


The Tamil Nadu Health Minister, who was in Coimbatore to participate in various functions, applauded the district administration and health department.


He also appreciated the task being taken by the administration to enter into record books by converting the used cooking oil into bio-diesel.


Asserting five mobile vans were launched for five zones of the city to reach 100 percent vaccination through door-to-door service, Subramaniam said Coimbatore is number-one in Tamil Nadu by vaccinating 93 percent of the population with the first dose and 37 percent with the second dose.


He added that over 5.51 lakh people were inoculated through five mega camps.


The Tamil Nadu Health Minister, who inaugurated a Rs.1.5-crore Special Newborn Care Unit in the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital, particularly to treat infants born weighing less than 1.5 kg, also commented on the functioning of Amma Clinics.


Subramaniam said they were a temporary arrangement, adding there was no need for such clinics and their staff was shifted to health departments once the DMK government introduced the door-to-door campaign.


Responding to a poser on National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), he said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin has sent letters to 12 chief ministers on the need to scrap the test.


He added it was certain that Tamil Nadu would become a model State in abolishing the NEET.


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When asked to comment on admission to medical colleges, Subramaniam said the state government has taken steps to admit 1,650 students to 11 medical colleges this academic year.


He said 850 seats have already been allotted, adding another 800 seats would be allotted once the infrastructure is ready.