Turkey to procure 105 mln doses of COVID-19 vaccines by end-April -Sabah
ANKARA, Feb 19 (Reuters) - Turkey aims to procure 105million doses of COVID-19 vaccines by the end of April, itshealth minister said on Friday, adding Ankara would also receivesome 800,000 doses of the shots developed by Pfizer andBioNTech this month.
Ankara started a nationwide vaccination programme last monththat has so far administered a first dose to some 5.5 millionpeople. More than a million people have received the second doseof the vaccine developed by China's Sinovac Biotech Ltd,according to health ministry data.
Speaking to the Sabah newspaper, Health Minister FahrettinKoca said Turkey planned to procure a further 105 million dosesby the end of April, but did not specify which vaccines would beobtained. He said Turks would be given the option to choosebetween the Sinovac and BioNTech shots once both are available.
"By the end of April, a procurement of 105 million vaccinedoses is being planned," Koca said. "It is expected that around800,000 doses of (BioNTech) vaccines will arrive this month," hewas quoted as saying.
Koca said Turkey was preparing to administer 35 millionshots in March.
"Citizens whose vaccination turn arrives will be presentedthis option. Their confirmations will be received. This vaccinewill also especially be offered to the group of 60 year-olds andyounger," he said, referring to BioNTech's shots.
Turkey has ordered 50 million doses of Sinovac's Coronavacand has been in talks to buy shots developed by other companies.Ankara has so far received 13 million doses of Coronavac, but noBioNTech shots.
Turkey has reported more than 2.6 million cases and nearly28,000 deaths from COVID-19 since March. In December, it imposedweekend lockdowns, nightly curfews and other curbs in the faceof rising cases.
President Tayyip Erdogan said on Wednesday Turkey will begina gradual return to "normal life" in March on aprovince-by-province basis.(Reporting by Tuvan GumrukcuEditing by Ece Toksabay and)
