JAKARTA - India began a mass vaccination campaign for tens of thousands of people over the age of 45 on Thursday, in its biggest effort to fight the surge in the coronavirus which has reached its highest daily toll since early October.
The world's second-most populous country is targeting immunizations for 400 million people, after expanding a vaccination program previously restricted to those over 60, as well as people with serious health conditions.
"Our requirement is 400 million people to be vaccinated. That is our minimum requirement, our target. We are currently facing an emergency situation. Whatever we have, we will use it", the source, who requested anonymity, told Reuters.
Anxious people queued early at New Delhi's Max hospital for a shot of the Oxford - AstraZeneca vaccine produced by the Serum Institute of India, the world's largest vaccine maker.
"We have been saying from the start, everywhere and on social media, that please open up the vaccine program, let everyone get it and be tension free", said Madhav Singh Rathore, 53, a salesperson at a clothing store, who sat among the line of people waiting to get the shot.
India started an inoculation program in January focusing on healthcare workers and then the elderly, with the aim of protecting the most vulnerable first.
India also sends millions of doses of vaccine to neighboring countries and then around the world, as part of a diplomatic initiative to make friends. Policies that spark criticism, because the population is neglected.
Pressure on the Indian government is growing, as the increase in daily cases has quadrupled in the past month, as travel restrictions have been lifted and much of the region has reopened.
"The situation is going from bad to worse", said COVID-19 Advisor to Prime Minister Modi VK Paul this week.
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On Thursday, India's Health Ministry said there were 72.330 new cases of COVID-19 infection, the highest since 11 October. Meanwhile, the total number of infected cases reached 12.22 million, or the third-largest in the world after the United States and Brazil. And, the overall death rate reached 162.927 people.
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