<p>In a first, the Tamil Nadu government is set to allow beneficiaries to choose between two government-approved vaccines – Covaxin and Covishield for Covid-19 inoculation.</p>.<p>It’s been over a month since the mass vaccination drive was kicked off in the state.</p>.<p>“Since two vaccines have been granted approval and are in stock, the government has decided to make them both available in all the districts, leaving it to the beneficiaries to choose between the two. The decision was taken following requests for Covaxin from districts that earlier did not offer it. Some who preferred Covaxin over Covishield said that they had to travel far to take the jab at one of the six districts initially,” the Principal Secretary to the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Dr J Radhakrishnan <a href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2021/feb/18/now-you-can-choose-between-covaxin-covishield-2265499.html">exclusively </a>told <em>The New Indian Express</em>.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/india-reports-over-13000-covid-19-cases-after-18-days-952904.html">India reports over 13,000 Covid-19 cases after 18 days </a></strong></p>.<p>Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin was earlier administered at only six vaccination centres across Tamil Nadu, now it would be available at government medical colleges in other districts too in a phased manner.</p>.<p>The state government had made a request to the Centre to expedite the vaccination programme for people in the age group of 50 years and above and others who were originally scheduled to be vaccinated from the middle of March.</p>.<p>As of Thursday, Tamil Nadu reported 457 new Covid-19 cases aggregating to 8,46,937 in the state, while six more fatalities pushed the toll to 12,444.</p>
<p>In a first, the Tamil Nadu government is set to allow beneficiaries to choose between two government-approved vaccines – Covaxin and Covishield for Covid-19 inoculation.</p>.<p>It’s been over a month since the mass vaccination drive was kicked off in the state.</p>.<p>“Since two vaccines have been granted approval and are in stock, the government has decided to make them both available in all the districts, leaving it to the beneficiaries to choose between the two. The decision was taken following requests for Covaxin from districts that earlier did not offer it. Some who preferred Covaxin over Covishield said that they had to travel far to take the jab at one of the six districts initially,” the Principal Secretary to the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Dr J Radhakrishnan <a href="https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/tamil-nadu/2021/feb/18/now-you-can-choose-between-covaxin-covishield-2265499.html">exclusively </a>told <em>The New Indian Express</em>.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/national/india-reports-over-13000-covid-19-cases-after-18-days-952904.html">India reports over 13,000 Covid-19 cases after 18 days </a></strong></p>.<p>Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin was earlier administered at only six vaccination centres across Tamil Nadu, now it would be available at government medical colleges in other districts too in a phased manner.</p>.<p>The state government had made a request to the Centre to expedite the vaccination programme for people in the age group of 50 years and above and others who were originally scheduled to be vaccinated from the middle of March.</p>.<p>As of Thursday, Tamil Nadu reported 457 new Covid-19 cases aggregating to 8,46,937 in the state, while six more fatalities pushed the toll to 12,444.</p>