‘Shortage of vaccines’ in Turkey amid pandemic

* Photo: Archive / AA

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Due to the upcoming autumn and winter seasons amid the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, citizens are now heading for medical institutions and pharmacies to have pneumonia and flu vaccination.

Physicians have long been underlining the importance of these vaccines, especially for those who are aged 65 and over or suffer from chronic diseases. As the demand has increased, consumption has also increased. While flu vaccines cannot be found in Turkey as of today, there are also problems with pneumonia vaccine supply.

Şadiye Dönümcü, a columnist for bianet, also has a chronic disease and as she is in the risk group, she has recently been to a Family Medicine Department to have a pneumonia vaccine.

However, as the department did not have vaccines, Dönümcü could not benefit from a free vaccine, which is in fact her right. Then, she went to a pharmacy to buy the vaccine for 344 lira (~45 USD). However, the pharmacy did not have it, either. The pharmacist told her that 2-3 vaccines are sent to them from drug warehouses a month and put her name on a list.

Dönümcü went to other pharmacies after that and even though she has a chronic disease, she had to pay for the vaccine as it cannot be found free.

'I waited till August'

61-year-old Şadiye Dönümcü has long been a SLE (LUPUS) patient. Infection, anxiety and fatigue automatically aggravate the disease, which leads to attacks in the end. "I can recover from even a simple flu after a long time," Dönümcü says, adding that she has been vaccinated against flu every October for almost the last 20 years:

"After the first COVID-19 cases ended in death in Turkey, it was in April when I went to the family physician in İzmir, where I had gone for a visit, but stayed for a long period of time. I was asked to be vaccinated against pneumonia. I asked, 'Do you think it is right to do it amid pandemic? Should I do it?'

"The doctor said, 'Yes, you must be vaccinated. You are in the risk group, but we have not known this virus yet. I think you should wait for some time.' And I waited. I waited till mid-August. The pandemic does not seem likely to end, unfortunately..."

'My friends could hardly find the paid one'

Dönümcü also says that after she was vaccinated at the pharmacy where she could finally find the vaccine, she has not had any significant problems, adding that she only has a minor limitation of movement in her left arm:

"There are not so many people around me who have been vaccinated against pneumonia. After I got vaccinated, I led some of my friends to follow suit. Yes, they could hardly find the paid ones. Some of them are waiting for their turn to be vaccinated. Some family medicine departments are said to receive a limited number of vaccines.

"Besides, I have recently been encountering several news and posts about pneumonia and flu vaccines in the press and social media. What experts say about this issue do not contradict, it is quite clear. As you know, we have been subjected to so much disinformation due to the COVID-19 pandemic."

'There might be problems in densely populated areas'

Against this backdrop, we have also spoken with Family Physicians Federation (AHEF) 2nd Chair and Adana Family Physicians Association Chair Dr. Yakup Şahin about the issue. He has indicated that as pneumonia vaccines are produced in Turkey, Family Health Centers (ASM) do not have major problems with finding them; however, high demand in densely populated areas sometimes leads to logistical problems.

Underlining that flu and pneumonia vaccines do not have any effects in preventing COVID-19 or helping people recover from it without any harms, Dr. Şahin has underlined its importance for COVID-positive people in following words: "As they prevent secondary infections, they prevent patients from taking a turn for the worse."

* Dr. Yakup Şahin

According to what Dr. Şahin has told bianet, pneumonia vaccine is not a must for citizens who are aged below 65 or do not have chronic diseases. He is informed that the vaccine will be distributed to all pharmacies after September 15. Therefore, those who are not in these risk groups, but still want to be vaccinated can do so by buying it from pharmacies.

Flu vaccination is due October

The other issue is the flu vaccine, which cannot be found in the market. Dr. Şahin has indicated that they especially recommend the following groups to get vaccinated against flu: Health workers and women after four months of pregnancy. Referring to what they hear about the issue, Şahin has said that the vaccine is planned to be distributed in mid-October.

"However, we will see in time how much it will meet the demand. Because we know that around 2 million doses of vaccines are produced and come to the country, we cannot foresee whether it will suffice or not."

It is requested as per order

As told by a physician from a Family Health Center in Beyoğlu, İstanbul, there is a high demand for pneumonia vaccines even in these centers, albeit not intensively. Physicians request a number of vaccines based on the number of people who want to be vaccinated and give appointments.

Pneumonia and flu vaccines

According to a circular issued by the Ministry of Health, citizens aged 65 and over or suffering from chronic diseases have been vaccinated against pneumonia and influenza free of charge since 2016.

The related chronic diseases are listed as follows: Immune system disorders, diabetes, asthma, KOAH and organ transplant.

The ones who are not in these risk groups can apply to a pharmacy and get vaccinated for flu and pneumonia for a fee.

There are two types of pneumonia vaccines. While conjugate vaccines protect a person from the disease for the rest of her life, it costs 344 lira. The polysaccharide vaccine protects for only five years and it costs 68 lira. Certain groups are vaccinated with the latter by Family Health Centers. However, neither of them can now be supplied.

In a statement on September 2, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca talked about this issue and said, "There will be an algorithm that we recommend for the ones who have to be vaccinated against flu and pneumonia. I do not think that we will have problems. We will supply 3-4 times more than last year." (TP/SD)