Will there be mass vaccination for the Eris variant? Minister Koca explains

Health Minister Fahrettin Koca answered journalists' questions following the cabinet meeting.

Stating that the number of patients has increased recently regarding the Eris variant, which is also seen in Turkey, Minister Koca said, ''However, hospitalization rates are quite low. It does not cause severe illness. It follows a milder course. Covid-19 has turned into an upper respiratory tract infection like a cold or the flu.''

''NO NEED FOR NEW MEASURES FOR THE ERIS VARIANT''

Saying that there is no need for panic, Koca said, ''There is no question of restrictions or lockdowns reminiscent of the old period. In this sense, absolutely no new measures are needed for the Eris variant. I had already expressed this in the clearest way. We now know the disease very well and there is no situation to worry about,'' he said.

''DOES NOT MEAN WE WILL BOW TO VACCINE PRESSURE''

Speaking about vaccination, the Health Minister said, ''We are all witnessing some countries trying to set an example with vaccine pressure. Some countries bowing to vaccine pressure does not mean that we will bow to vaccine pressure,'' he stated.

WILL THERE BE A NEW VACCINE FOR ERIS?

Saying, ''Turkey has its own program, and we will not start a vaccination program just because someone wants us to,'' Koca said, ''We are implementing our own program, and we are absolutely not considering implementing a new vaccination program for Covid-19 at this time. It is that clear. We have no other suggestions, nor do we have a new vaccination program. In other words, there is absolutely no need for a mass vaccination program,'' he said.

The highlights from Minister Koca's statements are as follows:

"When Covid-19 first emerged, it contained many unknowns. It was necessary to develop a vaccine in the early period to fight this process in terms of both the virus and the diseases. In this context, we developed Turkovac, a vaccine produced with reliable, ancient techniques known as inactivated. In this process, we now know the disease and we recognize the virus. We are following the effects and changes of all mutations.

In these mutations, there has never been an increase in the virulence of the virus, that is, its disease-causing effect, compared to when it first emerged. The mutations that have occurred are mutations with weaker disease-causing power, and as I said, we are following this closely. In this sense, absolutely no new measures are needed for the Eris variant. I had already expressed this in the clearest way. We now know the disease very well and there is no situation to worry about.

"IT IS NOT POSSIBLE FOR US TO BOW TO GLOBAL COVID VACCINE PRESSURE"

We are all witnessing some countries trying to set an example with vaccine pressure. Some countries bowing to vaccine pressure does not mean that we will bow to vaccine pressure. It is not possible for us to bow to global Covid vaccine pressure. Turkey has its own program, and we will not start a vaccination program just because someone wants us to. We are implementing our own program, and we are absolutely not considering implementing a new vaccination program for Covid-19 at this time. It is that clear.

"WE CAN SAY THAT THE NUMBER OF PATIENTS HAS INCREASED WITH THE ERIS VARIANT"

The virulence of the Eris variant, that is, its power to cause illness, is lower, but its transmissibility is higher. We can say that the number of patients has increased in this period. However, hospitalization rates are quite low. It does not cause severe illness. It follows a milder course. Covid-19 has turned into an upper respiratory tract infection like a cold or the flu. This was a course we expected. There is no need for panic. There is no question of restrictions or lockdowns reminiscent of the old period. Therefore, all our citizens now know what we need to do to protect ourselves; we recommend that those who are sick isolate themselves, not go out into society, and that those who are at risk especially protect themselves and stay away from crowded environments, and use masks in that situation if it is absolutely necessary.

We have no other suggestions, nor do we have a new vaccination program. In other words, there is absolutely no need for a mass vaccination program. However, we attach importance to the flu vaccine during this period. We recommend that those who are in risk groups and for whom flu vaccines have been defined get vaccinated as soon as possible. Flu vaccines are provided free of charge to those who are in the risk group and have been identified.

"WE ARE FOLLOWING THE CHILDHOOD VACCINATION PROGRAM WITH SENSITIVITY"

However, as you know, our childhood immunization vaccination program is continuing successfully and we see it as very important. We are following the childhood vaccination program with sensitivity. Our citizens should act sensitively on this issue and ensure that our children's vaccines in the immunization program are completed. The infrastructure construction of our Hıfzıssıhha Vaccine and Biotechnological Product Research and Production Center, which we have commissioned to produce these vaccines, is continuing. We are basing our efforts on localizing all our vaccines. In addition, the process for the three vaccines we previously announced with technology transfer has also begun. We especially care about the production of chickenpox, rabies, and Hepatitis-A vaccines through technology transfer for our children."

News Source: 12punto