Over 119.7M coronavirus vaccine shots given in Turkey to date

ISTANBUL

Turkey has administered over 119.72 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since it launched an immunization drive in January, according to official figures released on Wednesday.

More than 56.1 million people have gotten a first vaccine dose and over 50.1 million have been fully vaccinated, the Health Ministry said.

Turkey has also given third booster shots to more than 12 million people.

The ministry recorded 27,592 new coronavirus cases, 175 deaths and 28,285 recoveries over the past day.

As many as 364,351 virus tests were done in the past 24 hours, the data showed.

On Twitter, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has lasted longer than expectations has demoralized and demotivated people, yet, its reality is still there with high infection and death rates.

“But with the high number of cases and deaths, the truth is in front of us again and again every day. We cannot ignore COVID-19,” Koca added, urging a determined fight against the pandemic.

Health care workers, who have received two doses of an inactivated vaccine and later a booster shot of mRNA or an inactivated vaccine, will be able to get another shot, Koca said in a statement after a Coronavirus Science Board meeting.

During the meeting, the health minister said, treatments used in epidemic management have been reassessed and discussions on the use of antiviral drug Favipiravir were addressed.

“The data collected by our ministry were discussed in our scientific committee meeting, and it was clearly demonstrated that the drug does not have any significant side effects,” he said.

He also underlined it was decided to add the antiviral drug, Molnupiravir, to the treatment guide.

Separately, Koca said Turkey will donate 10 million vaccine doses through the COVAX facility, a mechanism to get vaccines to less-developed countries.


The health minister and WHO’s Regional Director Hans Kluge also spoke via telephone Wednesday.


 “We can only manage this pandemic with solidarity. As we face a difficult winter, I am grateful to @drfahrettinkoca& Turkey for the generous offer to receive #COVID19 patients if needed, to support European countries with overwhelmed health systems & ICUs.” Kluge wrote on Twitter.

“Turkey has set a positive example of global solidarity, providing 160 countries and 29 international organizations with #COVID19 supplies, as well as donating over 2 million doses of vaccine to 11 countries since the pandemic began. My thanks to Dr Koca and Turkey,” he added.

Since December 2019, the pandemic has claimed over 5.17 million lives in at least 192 countries and regions, with more than 259 million cases reported worldwide, according to US-based Johns Hopkins University.