Covid-19 vaccination drive begins in Coimbatore medical college hospital

COIMBATORE: The

vaccination drive

against

Covid-19

began in the district at

Coimbatore Medical College Hospital

at 12 pm on Saturday.

Head of department of pediatrics Dr V Booma became the first beneficiary to receive the

vaccine

in the district. She was followed by the hospital dean Dr P Kalidas.

At least 64 people received the vaccine in the first 90 minutes of the drive, including post-graduate students, hospital administrative staff and sanitary workers. The drive also began in the district’s other three centres—Nalattipalayam PHC, Mettupalayam GH and Pollachi GH.

Nearly, 400 people are expected to be vaccinated by end of today.

The vaccination drive inaugurated by local minister

S P Velumani

, saw all the beneficiaries receiving the vaccine and spending half an hour in the observation room drinking oral rehydration solution.

The first doses of the vaccine was administered by health visitor, M Selvi, who is the main vaccinating nurse in

CMCH

. Though it was a muscular injection, the first batch of beneficiaries said they did not see any after effect in the first half an hour.

Dr V Booma, who happens to be the vaccination nodal officer for the hospital, said she had volunteered to be the first beneficiary.

“I was excited about getting the first shot in the district. I think it’s a proud moment because I believe vaccination is what will eventually help us beat Covid-19,” she said. “Personally, I am happy that it reduces the risk of me getting infected and passing it on to my hundreds of patients,” she added.

Minister S P Velumani said that off the 100 beneficiaries in CMCH, 36 were doctors, 37 were PG students and the remaining were nursing staff, sanitary workers and administrative staff.