Amid steady dip in daily caseload, the sixth mega COVID vaccination drive

to inoculate the uncovered population and to target those who have not yet taken their second

dose jabs, began in Tamil Nadu, on Saturday.

The 12-hour long camp began at 0700 hrs in over 50,000 centres across the State.

Though the previous five mega camps were held on Sundays, the state Health department

officials chose to have the camp on Saturday this time as people taking non-vegetarian food

and alcohol were hesitant in taking their jabs on Sundays.

Health department officials said more than 60 lakh doses were available in the state and the

main objective of the camp was to inoculate more than 55 lakh people, who were yet to

take their second dose.

More than five crore people were vaccinated during the five previous camps and more than

75 per cent of the people have been inoculated so far.

Health Secretary Dr J Radhakrishnan said it could not be surely said at the present time

whether there would be outbreak of third wave of COVID in the State.

Citing the spike in cases in several countries, including China, he said taking into account

the upcoming festival season, people were congregating in large numbers.

"Taking these factors into consideration, we cannot surely say there will not be any third

wave. But people has to take all precautions like wearing of face masks and maintain

social distancing to prevent control of the virus spread", he said.