India reported 72,330 new&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/coronavirus">COVID-19</a>&nbsp;cases and 459 related deaths in the last 24 hours, informed the union health ministry on Thursday.

With these additional cases, the total number of Covid-19 cases in the country reached 1,22,21,665.

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India&nbsp;has so far exported 64 million vaccine doses to 83 countries and administered the same number of doses at home. Its inoculation drive expanded from Thursday to include everyone above the age of 45, which is expected to raise vaccine demand substantially.

India&nbsp;kicked off its inoculation programme in January focused on health workers and then the elderly, saying it wanted to cover the most vulnerable first.

The country has approved two vaccines&nbsp;Covishield by the Serum Institute of India and&nbsp;Bharat Biotech's Covaxin.

Over 65.12 million people have been vaccinated in India, including&nbsp;9.33 million people who have received both doses while&nbsp;55.7 million have received a single shot. It aims to inoculate 250 million people by July.

However,&nbsp;half of India's population is below 26.8 years of age.&nbsp;But these people do not qualify for inoculation.&nbsp;

Young people are being infected with the novel virus and they are losing their lives because of it.

India vaccine strategy is discriminating against the youth of the country even though many of them are suffering from life-threatening illnesses.

A survey conducted by an online platform called local circles found that 75 per cent&nbsp;of Indian citizens are in favour of the government&nbsp;opening the vaccination for all above the age of 18.

Currently,&nbsp;only 25.35 per cent&nbsp;of India's population is eligible for vaccination.&nbsp;The age group 45 or above makes up for just 345 million of the total 1.36 billion population.

With school children still at risk and a population&nbsp;that travels, goes to work and socialises the most, this is not the best strategy to achieve herd immunity.

Although India is&nbsp;expanding the vaccination programme, it needs to welcome all adults with co-morbidities&nbsp;and those above 18&nbsp;working in public-facing jobs.

The United Kingdom is inoculating those above 16 who are in high-risk groups.&nbsp;In the United Arab Emirates, everyone above the age of 16 is eligible for vaccination.

India must realise that its young workforce&nbsp;is its backbone and that it needs to rethink its vaccine strategy.

India reported 72,330 new COVID-19 cases and 459 related deaths in the last 24 hours, informed the union health ministry on Thursday. With these additional cases, the total number of Covid-19 cases in the country reached 1,22,21,665.

India reported 72,330 new COVID-19 cases and 459 related deaths in the last 24 hours, informed the union health ministry on Thursday. With these additional cases, the total number of Covid-19 cases in the country reached 1,22,21,665. India has so far exported 64 million vaccine doses to 83 countries and administered the same number of doses at home. Its inoculation drive expanded from Thursday to include everyone above the age of 45, which is expected to raise vaccine demand substantially. India kicked off its inoculation programme in January focused on health workers and then the elderly, saying it wanted to cover the most vulnerable first. The country has approved two vaccines Covishield by the Serum Institute of India and Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. Over 65.12 million people have been vaccinated in India, including 9.33 million people who have received both doses while 55.7 million have received a single shot. It aims to inoculate 250 million people by July. However, half of India's population is below 26.8 years of age. But these people do not qualify for inoculation. Young people are being infected with the novel virus and they are losing their lives because of it. India vaccine strategy is discriminating against the youth of the country even though many of them are suffering from life-threatening illnesses. A survey conducted by an online platform called local circles found that 75 per cent of Indian citizens are in favour of the government opening the vaccination for all above the age of 18. Currently, only 25.35 per cent of India's population is eligible for vaccination. The age group 45 or above makes up for just 345 million of the total 1.36 billion population. With school children still at risk and a population that travels, goes to work and socialises the most, this is not the best strategy to achieve herd immunity. Although India is expanding the vaccination programme, it needs to welcome all adults with co-morbidities and those above 18 working in public-facing jobs. The United Kingdom is inoculating those above 16 who are in high-risk groups. In the United Arab Emirates, everyone above the age of 16 is eligible for vaccination. India must realise that its young workforce is its backbone and that it needs to rethink its vaccine strategy.

Why is it time for India to reassess its vaccine strategy

India on Thursday launched the third phase of the coronavirus vaccination drive for people aged above&nbsp;45 in its biggest push yet against a surging coronavirus that has hit the highest daily count since early October.

The world's second-most populous country aims to immunise 400 million people after expanding the programme, which had been restricted to the over-60s and people with serious health conditions.

Seeking to exponentially expand the countrywide anti-coronavirus inoculation drive, the central government&nbsp;has decided to keep all public and private sector COVID-19 Vaccination Centres (CVCs) operational throughout April, including on gazetted holidays.

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/at-all-public-and-private-sector-centres-covid-vaccination-throughout-april-including-gazetted-holidays-374750" hreflang="en">At all public and private sector centres: Covid vaccination throughout April</a>

The centre wrote to all states and union territories on Thursday and asked them to make necessary arrangements for this, the Union Health Ministry said.

"This step has been taken after detailed deliberations with the states and UTs on March 31 to optimally utilise all COVID-19 Vaccination Centres across the public and private sectors to ensure rapid increase in the pace and coverage of COVID vaccination.

"This decision is in line with the graded and pro-active approach employed by the government of India along with the states and UTs for COVID-19 vaccination," the ministry said.

The vaccination exercise continues to be regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level, it highlighted.

A countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated first, and vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) started from February 2.

The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced on March 1 to cover people above 60 and those in the age group of 45-59 but with specified co-morbid conditions.

India has&nbsp;also shipped millions of doses of the vaccine to neighbouring countries and then across the world as part of a diplomatic initiative to win friends.

Data released by the health ministry on Thursday showed 72,330 new COVID-19 infections, the highest since October&nbsp;11. Deaths stand at 162,927.

India on Thursday launched the third phase of the coronavirus vaccination drive for people aged above 45 in its biggest push yet against a surging coronavirus that has hit the highest daily count since early October.

India on Thursday launched the third phase of the coronavirus vaccination drive for people aged above 45 in its biggest push yet against a surging coronavirus that has hit the highest daily count since early October. The world's second-most populous country aims to immunise 400 million people after expanding the programme, which had been restricted to the over-60s and people with serious health conditions. Seeking to exponentially expand the countrywide anti-coronavirus inoculation drive, the central government has decided to keep all public and private sector COVID-19 Vaccination Centres (CVCs) operational throughout April, including on gazetted holidays. Also read| At all public and private sector centres: Covid vaccination throughout April The centre wrote to all states and union territories on Thursday and asked them to make necessary arrangements for this, the Union Health Ministry said. "This step has been taken after detailed deliberations with the states and UTs on March 31 to optimally utilise all COVID-19 Vaccination Centres across the public and private sectors to ensure rapid increase in the pace and coverage of COVID vaccination. "This decision is in line with the graded and pro-active approach employed by the government of India along with the states and UTs for COVID-19 vaccination," the ministry said. The vaccination exercise continues to be regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level, it highlighted. A countrywide vaccination drive was rolled out on January 16 with healthcare workers (HCWs) getting inoculated first, and vaccination of frontline workers (FLWs) started from February 2. The next phase of COVID-19 vaccination commenced on March 1 to cover people above 60 and those in the age group of 45-59 but with specified co-morbid conditions. India has also shipped millions of doses of the vaccine to neighbouring countries and then across the world as part of a diplomatic initiative to win friends. Data released by the health ministry on Thursday showed 72,330 new COVID-19 infections, the highest since October 11. Deaths stand at 162,927.

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