NEW DELHI -- As coronavirus cases continue to surge in India, the country is expanding its vaccination drive to include all people over 45 years of age, a group that covers 340 million and that the government says accounts for 88% of COVID-19 deaths.
The move will come into effect from April 1 as part of the world's largest inoculation drive that was launched on Jan. 16 with jabs to health care professionals, police and other front-line workers. The second phase of the program began on March 1 involving all citizens above 60 as well as those older than 45 who had preexisting health problems.