<span style="color: #222222;">Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has welcomed the Centre's decision to open vaccination for all people above the age of 45 years.<br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">According to a press statement, Mr. Thackeray has expressed gratitude towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi for accepting his demand to vaccinate all people above the 45 as they form a critical portion of the workforce and have to move out of their homes. </span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''During a video conference meeting with the Prime Minister last week, Mr. Thackeray had emphasized that universal vaccination is essential to control the rising number of COVID cases.</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;"><br />''The statement adds that Maharashtra is on top of the vaccination chart with over 45 lakh people receiving the jab till Monday.</span>