Setting a crucial example amid widespread concerns for the COVID-19 vaccines on their efficacies, Tamil Nadu Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan IAS has received the vaccine on Sunday, the second day of India's vaccination drive that began on Saturday with the target of vaccinating three crore frontline workers. 

The bureaucrat was reviewing the vaccination drive in Trichy, Tamil Nadu on Sunday. He was taking stock of the process in five vaccination centers in Trichy as they have been vaccinating the frontline healthcare workers on the second day and during the review drive, Radhakrishnan had received the vaccine through his trendsetting move, the bureaucrat has become one of the first-line Indian Administrative Officers to get vaccinated. According to reports, Radhakrishnan had received Covaxin, which is developed by Hyderabad based Bharat Biotech. 

Radhakrishnan said that he had decided to receive the dose as he is also a part of healthcare workers. Speaking to reporters, he described the vaccines as an important milestone towards curbing the novel coronavirus. So far, 3,226 healthcare workers including over 100 doctors had received the doses in Tamil Nadu since Saturday. By asserting that no beneficiary had reported any side effects of the doses, Radhakrishnan stated that people who are more than 50 years of age will be vaccinated soon. 

On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had launched India's vaccination drive as the nation has taken a potential leap towards combating the global pandemic. India will get vaccinated through its two indigenous vaccines - Covishield and Covaxin. Following the inauguration, all the states and union territories had begun the vaccination drive. In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami has launched the drive on Saturday in Government Rajaji General Hospital in Madurai. 

Tamil Nadu government doctors association president Dr. K Senthil, Indian Medical Association National President Dr. Jayalal, and Dean of Rajaji Hospital Dr. Sangumani were among the first to be vaccinated. The Tamil Nadu government had installed 166 centers across the state including the government and private to carry out the vaccination drive. While 160 centers had the doses of Covishield vaccine, the rest of the six centers had both Covishield and Covaxin vaccines and the beneficiaries are allowed to choose the vaccines in these six centers. The beneficiaries were mandated to fill up the consent form before getting vaccinated. 

On Saturday, the first day of the vaccination, 2,783 frontline workers were vaccinated in Tamil Nadu while Chennai had seen half of the total numbers. The Chief Minister said that the vaccine is for everyone but the healthcare providers were being prioritized now since they are more prone to infection. Tamil Nadu Health Minister Vijayabaskar has on Saturday said that no vaccine beneficiary in the state had reported the adverse effect of the doses and the government claimed that the first day of the drive was a success. 

On Saturday, Tamil Nadu had seen some of the reputed doctors of the state to get vaccinated. Apollo Hospitals Chairman Dr. Prathap Reddy and MGR Medical University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Sudha Seshayan were among the reputed doctors who received vaccines.  Earlier, Vijayabaskar and Radhakrishnan said they are ready to take vaccines to allay fears and Radhakrishnan has now received the vaccine and he has set a crucial example of drawing the common people towards the largest vaccination program to contain the global pandemic.