A total of 75 health workers in the Communicable Diseases Hospital in Tondiarpet were administered vaccines for A (H1N1) flu on Saturday, according to Chennai Corporation health officials.
The vaccination programme was formally launched by Health Minister V.S. Vijay at the hospital. He later inspected Government Stanley Hospital and the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, where a 20-bed ward has been readied to receive patients.
Till date, 14 persons had tested positive for the flu. On Saturday, a screening camp was held at St. Antony's School in Santhome and 320 students were screened.
The throat swab sample of one child found to have symptoms of A (H1N1) flu was sent to the King Institute of Preventive Medicine, Guindy. Around 70 persons were also screened at Dooming kuppam.
So far, healthcare workers have screened around 1,500 persons in various parts of the city.
According to health officials, screening programmes and camps were conducted as and when cases of flu were detected.
In the last week, the civic body has conducted screening camps in Velachery Periyar Nagar, Srinagar Colony, Saidapet, Slum Clearance Board, Kotturpuram, Syndicate Bank Colony in Anna Nagar and Asiad Colony. In Perungudi, zonal health officers have conducted awareness camps as there are no doctors there.
In zone 5, Royapuram, at a Chennai primary school, 300 students were screened. In zone 7, Ambattur, in divisions 80, 81 and 85, residents in 425 houses were screened.
