Turkey to receive 2nd shipment from 2nd batch of vaccine Friday

ANKARA

The second shipment of a second batch of COVID-19 vaccines from China will arrive Friday morning in Turkey, said the country's health minister.

"The first part of the second shipment of 10 million doses of inactivated vaccines arrived last weekend. As of this morning, the second part will arrive in our country. Vaccine shipment will continue in accordance with the procurement schedule," Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter.

A total of 6.5 million doses of the vaccine were imported in the first phase of the second shipment of 10 million doses.

Turkey has signed a deal with Chinese drug maker Sinovac Biotech to buy 50 million doses to vaccinate 25 million people.

Mass vaccinations began in Turkey on Jan. 14.

Koca and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan were among the first to be vaccinated to boost public confidence in the vaccine.

The government has also introduced nighttime and weekend curfews to stem the spread of COVID-19.