ISTANBUL, Feb 12 (NNN-ANADOLU) – Turkey yesterday began the inoculation of the second doses of China’s Sinovac COVID-19 vaccines. The nationwide vaccination rollout in Turkey started on Jan 14.
Nurettin Yiyit, chief physician of the Feriha Oz Emergency Hospital and Ilhan Varank Training and Research Hospital in Istanbul, said, Turkey decided to give a 28-day break between the two shots, as phase studies revealed that two doses of vaccination provide better protection.
“This period provided a good opportunity for us to observe the efficacy of the first dose,” Yiyit said, while supervising the inoculation process.
A total of 4,500 people have received their first shots so far, in the two hospitals, and no COVID-19 case has been observed among them.
“If the protection obtained after the second dose will disappear in a certain time, then we may need to give a reminder dose,” he said.
Speaking of the new strains detected in countries such as Britain, Brazil and South Africa, Yiyit said, Turkey’s confidence in Sinovac’s inactive vaccine is high, and the information coming each day supports this.
Zeynep Koc, a nurse at Ilhan Varank Hospital, said, she has been taking care of patients since the start of the pandemic in Turkey, in March, last year, and she couldn’t see her family because of the infection risk.
“The vaccine will certainly create antibodies, after the second dose, and as soon as I find this out, I will go and see my family,” Koc said, noting, vaccination is the only condition for the pandemic to end.
Tahir Katirlu, a hospital janitor, also said, he is dealing with COVID-19 patients all the time. “I encourage everyone to get their vaccines done. I hope we get through this pandemic,” he said.
Turkish citizens over 70 also started to get their first doses from yesterday. Over 2.8 million Turks have been vaccinated, since the start of the vaccination programme, according to the health ministry.
On Wednesday, Health Minister, Fahrettin Koca, announced that, Turkey aims to vaccinate at least 60 percent of its population.– NNN-ANADOLU
