Turkey will be among the first countries in the world to begin vaccinating people for the coronavirus, with the first shipment of vaccines it has purchased to arrive in Ankara sometime after Dec. 11, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said Wednesday.
“We have signed a contract for the supply of an inactive virus vaccine. We are also in talks for a mRNA vaccine,” Koca said in a statement after a virtual meeting of the Coronavirus Scientific Advisory Board.
HEALTHCARE WORKERS WILL BE VACCINATED FIRST
Public health laboratories and the Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency will evaluate the vaccines when they arrive, he said. He said Turkey is planning to carry out coronavirus vaccinations in four stages.
Healthcare workers, people aged 65 and above, disabled people, people who stay in shelters and those living in crowded places will be vaccinated in the first stage, Koca said.
He said those who work in critical jobs and people aged 50 and above having at least one chronic disease will be vaccinated in the second stage.
The third stage includes those with at least one chronic disease aged below 50, young adults and industry and professional workers not mentioned in the first two groups, he added. In the fourth and final stage, all individuals other than the first three groups will be vaccinated.
The Health Ministry will grant a permit for early use if the vaccines are found to be in line with the country’s standards, he said, adding their application will begin after this stage.