Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay receives China’s CoronaVac in Ankara Metropolis Hospital, Ankara, Turkey, on January 16. Photograph: VCG
Turkey introduced on Wednesday that the nation has up to now vaccinated 1.04 million residents in the course of the first week of its nationwide mass inoculation program in opposition to COVID-19.
The vaccination course of began throughout Turkey on January 14 with the COVID-19 vaccine CoronaVac developed by Chinese language firm Sinovac Life Sciences Co, the Xinhua Information Company reported Thursday.
A million healthcare staff have been among the many first group to get vaccinated, adopted by residents residing and dealing in nursing properties, disabled care facilities, and care properties, in accordance with Xinhua.
Turkey confirmed on Wednesday 6,435 new COVID-19 circumstances, elevating the whole quantity within the nation to 2,406,216, whereas the dying toll from the virus rose by 159 to 24,487, and the whole recoveries climbed to 2,283,919, Xinhua reported.
Turkey’s Well being Minister Fahrettin Koca obtained the primary dose of CoronaVac dwell on tv on January 13, changing into the primary particular person in Turkey to obtain the COVID-19 vaccine.
Following Koca, Turkish President Recep Erdogan and Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay have additionally had the Chinese language vaccines, native media experiences mentioned.
The truth that many senior officers and politicians in numerous international locations have obtained Chinese language vaccines is an indication of public belief in China’s medical items, Feng Duojia, president of the China Vaccine Business Affiliation, mentioned in an unique interview with the World Occasions on Wednesday.
Chinese language vaccines have gained excessive public belief, Feng famous.
Turkey just isn’t the one nation that has confidence in China’s vaccines.
At the least 20 international locations have bought COVID-19 vaccines developed by Chinese language producers together with Sinovac, Sinopharm and Cansino.
Up to now, over 40 international locations have requested to import Chinese language vaccines. Because the manufacturing capability expands, China will be capable to step by step supply extra to international locations in want, Chinese language International Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying mentioned at a press convention.
Chinese language corporations are additionally conducting joint vaccine R&D with companions in a dozen international locations, together with medical trials and co-production. On account of this cooperation, Chinese language corporations have supplied vaccines to associate international locations, in accordance with Hua.
Mutually helpful cooperation of this type has not solely promoted vaccine R&D on the Chinese language aspect, but additionally contributed to creating the vaccines extra reasonably priced and accessible in growing international locations, Hua mentioned.
The UAE, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Turkey, Indonesia and Brazil, amongst others, have approved the usage of Chinese language COVID-19 vaccines, Hua famous.
Regardless of the recognition of Chinese language vaccines, doubts and smears within the Western media over the security and efficacy of China’s vaccines have by no means stopped, claiming they haven’t reached the efficacy of Pfizer and Moderna.
In response, Feng defined that the efficacy of varied vaccines just isn’t essentially comparable as a result of distinction in medical trial design, websites, inhabitants and statistical methodology.
These vaccines’ security and efficacy are assured so long as the medical trial outcomes are in accordance with the World Well being Group’s steerage and primary requirements in addition to with nationwide rules, and have been strictly reviewed and evaluated. There isn’t any elementary distinction within the efficacy, Feng famous.
