Turkey starts inoculation of 2nd doses of China’s COVID-19 vaccines

Istanbul, Feb 12 : Turkey on Thursday began the inoculation of the second doses of China’s Sinovac Covid-19 vaccines for healthcare workers.
The nationwide vaccination rollout in Turkey started on January 14, the Xinhua news agency reported.
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 have revealed that two doses of vaccination provide better protection against coronavirus.
“This period provided a good opportunity for us to observe the efficacy of the first dose,” Yiyit told Xinhua, while supervising the inoculation process at Ilhan Varank Hospital.
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, according to the chief physician.
“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.