ANKARA
Turkey has signed a contract to purchase 50 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from China’s Sinovac Biotech, Well being Minister Fahrettin Koca has mentioned.
Turkey has a deal for 50 million doses of China’s Sinovac vaccine that can be delivered in December, January, and February, in accordance with the minister.
“If all goes well, we plan to start vaccinating at-risk groups gradually, starting with our healthcare personnel,” he mentioned, including that folks can be vaccinated free of charge.
At the least 10 million doses of the Chinese language vaccine can be delivered in December, however the goal is to obtain some 20 million doses and one other 20 million doses are scheduled for January and no less than 10 million doses can be acquired in February, Koca detailed.
Talking in Ankara after the Well being Ministry’s Science Board assembly on Nov. 25, Koca reiterated that Turkey can also be in talks with different vaccine builders, together with Russia.
“The important thing here for us to start using vaccines which are known to be effective and reliable … I think the vaccination calendar could start on Dec. 11,” he mentioned.
The minister earlier this month unveiled that Ankara hoped to purchase doses of Pfizer and BioNTech’s vaccine.
If the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine obtains its license, Turkey may get a million doses of the vaccine by the tip of the 12 months. We’re in talks to regularly go as much as 25 million inside a 12 months ranging from January, Koca mentioned at the moment.
On the press assembly on Nov. 25, the minister reminded that Turkey is finishing up research to develop its personal vaccines.
Works are underway for 16 potential vaccines and a kind of candidate jabs has already been administered to 44 volunteers, Koca famous.
“No serious side effects have been reported. The phase three trials of this potential injection will take place in April the latest and the locally-developed vaccine could be launched for use that month,” he mentioned.
