Round-the-clock Covid-19 shot at GRH vaccination centre, Theni GH

Madurai: The Government Rajaji Hospital Covid-19 vaccination centre, which is currently functioning at Elango Corporation School, started round-the-clock service on Monday.

GRH dean Dr A Rathinavel said that the centre is functioning with staff working round-the-clock and enough stock of Covid-19 vaccine. “As of now, we are managing with the available staff. However, we will recruit more staff to ensure the smooth functioning of the centre. First priority will be given to those who are registered for vaccination at the centre, and if we have available stock, we will vaccinate those walking in without registration too,” he said.

The dean said that efforts are on to relocate the vaccination centre from the school since schools will be reopened for Class IX to XII in September. “We are trying to find an alternative location since we also can’t risk crowding on the hospital premises,” he said.

The GRH is among the largest Covid-19 vaccination centres in the state and also has vaccinated more than 1 lakh people, the highest number of beneficiaries to get the jab from a single centre in the state. At the 12 special camps in Madurai Corporation limits, vaccination will be done from 11am to 4pm, while registration for the same can be done online through www.maduraicorporation.co.in between 9am to 11am. Vaccination will be done from 9am to 4pm at all the centres in the district. The corporation has also urged businesses, schools, colleges etc. to come forward and approach the local body for organizing special vaccination camps. Madurai district collector S Aneesh Sekhar has reiterated that now Covid-19 vaccination is being done for both those who are registered and those who have not registered. On Monday, he inspected the special vaccination camp for people with disabilities conducted on the district collectorate campus. More than 10 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in the district so far.

Meanwhile, Theni district collector M V Muralidharan inaugurated the 24-hour vaccination centre at Theni government hospital. The collector said 3,97,421 people have been vaccinated in Theni. Out of them, 31,821 had received their first doses, while 79,140 had received both doses. As many as 7,752 people with disabilities have also been vaccinated. Three doctors, three nurses, medical assistants and computer operators would work three shifts a day for eight hours each in the centre, he said.