Turkey is one of the leading countries in vaccination, says Erdoğan

* Photo: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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President and ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a speech to mark March 14 Medicine Day yesterday.

Erdoğan said, "We are one of the leading countries in vaccination, which we have launched starting with the riskiest groups."

NOTE: Turkey started COVID-19 vaccination with China's CoronaVac vaccine on January 13, 2021. According to Health Ministry's data, 11,034,386 people have been vaccinated as of today. While 7,896,313 people got the first dose, 3,138,073 people got the second dose. According to a statement released by the Turkish Medical Association (TTB) on March 4, at its current pace, Turkey might need 2 to 4 years to immunize 70 percent of its population.

As reported by the state-run Anadolu Agency (AA), Erdoğan expressed his gratitude for healthcare workers in his speech.

"I send greetings to you and your families with my most heartfelt feelings and congratulate you on Medicine Day. I am grateful to you and all your colleagues for your services for our nation and all of humanity," Erdoğan said in his message marking the day also known as Doctors' Day.

"Our healthcare professionals – unable to go to their homes for weeks, or hug their children and loved ones – have worked day and night to help our citizens regain their health as soon as possible," said President Erdoğan, adding that "health workers' sacrifice and efforts are very important in Turkey's fight against COVID-19 pandemic."

'Struggle is not yet over'

Turkey's struggle against the virus is not yet over, Erdoğan noted, urging people to work together until the threat is completely eliminated.

He also said that Turkey has worked to support the national healthcare system in addition to steps for normalization from the virus.

He praised healthcare workers "for serving the nation with heart and soul in the worst public health disaster of the last century."

"I once again wish God's mercy upon your colleagues who lost their lives in the fight against the pandemic. As we have done so far, we will continue to support and stand by you financially and morally," he pledged.

'Support our healthcare workers'

Underscoring that Turkey is determined to succeed in its fight against the pandemic that has deeply shaken the entire world, Erdoğan said:

"Without any complacency, we will maintain this fight by obeying the hygiene, mask and distancing rules which we have symbolized as TMM. I call on our citizens to follow the measures and support our healthcare workers." (TP/SD)