Turkish health minister answers FAQs on vaccination

By Ahmet Sertan Usul

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey's Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has responded to the frequently asked questions about the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination campaign in the country.

- I have already had COVID-19, should I still get vaccinated?

Protection against the virus continues for a while in those who have had COVID-19. Therefore, people who had contracted the infection are not among the groups to be vaccinated.

- For how long will I be protected against COVID-19 after I get the vaccine jab?

The protection period of COVID-19 vaccines is not yet known, and additional research is needed for this.

- How many doses of the vaccine will be administered?

People aged 18 and over will be administered a total of two doses, four weeks apart.

- Will I continue to follow the rules for wearing masks and social distancing after I get the vaccine?

Even after being vaccinated, you could still infect others. For this reason, the rules for wearing masks, social distancing, and hygiene must be followed.

- Is it mandatory to get the vaccine jab?

Vaccination is not compulsory in Turkey. For this reason, public awareness regarding vaccines is being carried out by the Health Ministry.

- Why are prioritization strategies applied in COVID-19 vaccination?

The vaccination stages were determined considering the risk of exposure to infectious disease, severely catching the disease, and transmission.

- Why are health care professionals vaccinated at the first stage?

Health care professionals have the highest risk of exposure to COVID-19.

- Do vaccines other than COVID-19 help protect from the virus?

There is no evidence that vaccines other than the COVID-19 vaccine protect against the pandemic.

- I just got the flu or pneumonia vaccine. Can I get a COVID-19 vaccine?

At least two weeks after getting the flu or pneumonia vaccine, you can be administered the COVID-19 vaccine.

- Does having had COVID-19 provide longer protection than being vaccinated?

The level of immunity varies according to the disease and the person. Since the COVID-19 agent SARS-CoV-2 is a new virus, it is not known for how long natural immunity is gained.

- Are there any side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine?

No serious side effects have been encountered in clinical studies conducted for COVID-19 vaccines and in current vaccine applications to date. The side effects after vaccination are often mild, such as fatigue, headache, fever, chills, muscle/joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, along with pain, redness, and swelling in the area of the jab.

- For whom is the COVID-19 vaccine not recommended?

People under the age of 18 will not be administered the vaccine. The vaccine will not be administered to people who have tested positive for COVID-19 by PCR test and to people who have been in contact with a COVID-19 case within 10 days before vaccination.

- What are the situations in which the vaccine should not be administered?

If there is a history of allergy/anaphylaxis against any substance contained in the vaccine, vaccination is not recommended.

- Why are people aged 65 and over prioritized for vaccination?

People aged 65 and over have a higher risk of contracting COVID-19, hospitalization, or even death.