India on Thursday expanded its coronavirus vaccination drive to the 45-60 age group as the country tries to tackle a surge in new infections.

Iran Press/Asia: Public and private centers offering jabs would be open every day throughout April including on public holidays in a “significant step to exponentially expand the countrywide vaccination drive”, the health ministry said.

The increased urgency follows a rise in cases since early February – when new daily infections dropped below 9,000 – to more than 72,000 on Thursday, the highest level since October.

Experts have warned that infections are increasing at a faster pace compared to last year when single-day cases peaked at almost 100,000 in September.

India has administered more than 65 million vaccination shots to the elderly and other vulnerable groups but at a pace too slow to hit the government’s ambitious target of inoculating 300 million people by the end of July.

So far, India has recorded 12,302,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 163,000 death. 

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