'Both doses of COVID-19 jab should be from same vendor'

By Yesim Sert Karaaslan

ANKARA (AA) - People should get both doses of the COVID-19 vaccine from the same vendor, a Turkish scientist has said.

Taking different types of jabs is not the "right approach", said Dr. Afsin Emre Kayipmaz, a member of Turkey's Coronavirus Scientific Advisory Board.

Kayipmaz said the vaccination campaign will accelerate as two batches of the Chinese Sinovac have reached the country. A total of 9.5 million doses of the vaccine are expected boost mass immunization against the virus.

The doctor said that vaccination will provide at least six months of protection, adding that the respiratory tract infections are expected to rise again by autumn.

Turkey began administering the coronavirus vaccine on people aged 75 and above on Thursday.

Nationwide vaccination started on Jan. 14 after the Sinovac was granted emergency use approval by Turkey's drug regulatory authority.

So far, senior citizens over 80 and 90 years old staying at care homes or their residences have been vaccinated.

Also, vaccination is ongoing for employees at pharmacies and students studying the subject at university level.

According to the official figures released by the Health Ministry, Turkey has vaccinated 1.524 million people as of Thursday morning, including frontline health workers.

The vaccine jabs will be given in two doses, 28 days apart.

The nationwide tally of cases has passed 2.44 million, while the death toll has surpassed 25,400. Recoveries topped 2.33 million.

*Writing by Jeyhun Aliyev in Ankara