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* Photo: Aytuğ Can Sencar / AA
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Health Minister Fahrettin Koca answered the questions of reporters about the COVID-19 pandemic at the Parliament yesterday (March 30).
Responding to the criticisms about crowded congresses held by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Koca said that "keeping this issue on the agenda does not help anyone" and urged everyone to fulfil their responsibilities in the struggle against the pandemic.
Minister Koca also talked about the ongoing vaccination efforts as well as the coronavirus variants seen in Turkey.
AKP congresses
Amid criticisms about the "jam-packed" congresses of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Minister Koca answered a question about the crowds in the AKP congresses briefly as follows:
"I am of the opinion that keeping this issue on the agenda doesn't help anyone. Because, in both our information so far, including our Science Board members, we know that the virus spreads in closed spaces.
"We know that the virus spreads in case of close contacts. There is no change in this information. Therefore, I am of the opinion that everyone needs to fulfil his or her responsibility in this struggle.
"I am of the opinion that it is not right to create a story of privilege out of this. Since we know that everyone is one and together in this struggle and since we know how the virus spreads, I would like to underline that everyone must abide by the measures in this struggle."
Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and mutations
As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), Health Minister Koca also announced that Turkey will likely start administering the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine in the next few days.
He said that Turkey has so far received 2.8 million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine with the total set to reach 4.5 million in about 10 days.
On a cautionary note, Koca added that COVID-19 mutations are spreading throughout Turkey, and now make up some 75 percent of new cases.
"We need to stay away from closed, crowded environments and especially close contact in this period because the COVID-19 mutations are spreading," he said, warning especially of the UK variant.
This variant has more serious negative consequences for risky patient groups, he stressed.
The existing virus is now being displaced in Turkey by the UK variant, he said, adding that Turkey is also seeing the Brazil and South Africa variants.
Three cases of the Brazil variant COVID-19 were reported so far, and 157 of the South Africa strain, he added.
Intranasal COVID-19 vaccine
Asked whether people have the right to choose among different vaccines, he said that those who do not want to take the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine can receive Sinovac when their turn comes.
In this sense, people will have the right not to take it, because the vaccination is administered after getting a consent form, he added.
During the holy month of Ramadan starting in mid-April, special night prayers of Tarawih will be done using necessary measures, he stressed.
Health Ministry supports the preclinical, clinical, and production phases of a new nasal vaccine through the Health Institutes of Turkey, said Koca: "We know it as a vaccine that provides mucosal immunity and prevents infectiousness because it prevents entry through the upper respiratory tract. It is a vaccine that we think will be the first of its kind in the world."
Phase 1 human trials will begin within two or three weeks in Ankara City Hospital, Koca said, briefly adding, "Probably it will be ready by the end of the year, maybe earlier if the study is successful." (EKN/SD)
