Maharashtra decides to make Salman Khan vaccine ambassador to promote vaccination in Muslims areas

In a bid to encourage the Muslim community to take Covid-19 vaccine shots in Maharashtra, the Uddhav Thackeray-led government on November 17 decided to make actor Salman Khan the vaccine ambassador of the state.

Maharashtra is leading in terms of the number of vaccine shots administered, but in some areas the pace of vaccination is low.

"There is still some hesitancy in Muslim-dominated areas. We have decided to use Salman Khan and religious leaders to convince the Muslim community to take the vaccine," Rajesh Tope was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.

According to the reports, over 10.25 crore vaccine doses have been administered in Maharashtra so far, and by the end of November all eligible persons will have received at least the first dose.

India recorded 10,197 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, 15 per cent higher than the previous day when it had recorded 8,865 new coronavirus infections, the lowest in 287 days.

At least 12,134 people recovered from the infection in a day while the country recorded 301 deaths in the last 24 hours.

The active coronavirus caseload stands at 1,28,555 - lowest in 527 days.