Health Minister Fahrettin Koca recently announced that the domestic coronavirus vaccine TURKOVAC has been approved for emergency use and mass production has begun. “From the end of next week, we will be in widespread use, especially in our city hospitals,” Koca said.
VACCINES ARE EXPECTED TO BE AVAILABLE THIS WEEK
The domestic vaccine, which has started mass production, is in the review process of TURKOVAC. Vaccines controlled by sampling method will be distributed to hospitals. Vaccines are expected to become available this week.
Turkish scientists worked day and night nonstop. The effectiveness and reliability of TURKOVAC has been proven with the participation of thousands of volunteers.
The domestic inactivated vaccine has reached the final stage in TURKOVAC. Emergency use approval was obtained, mass production began.
NO SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS OCCURRED
Administered as a ‘reminder dose’ to volunteers with 2 doses of ‘Sinovac’ vaccine in October, TURKOVAC was successful. In November 2020, the FAZ-1 study was started with 44 individuals.
The fact that there were no serious side effects in 250 volunteers who were vaccinated in FAZ-2 raised hopes.
The effectiveness of the vaccine was tested this time in FAZ-3, where thousands of volunteers participated. President Erdoğan announced the name of the vaccine, which was successful at this stage, as “TURKOVAC”.
Vaccines are kept in the vaccine and drug warehouse of the Ministry of Health’s General Directorate of Public Health. Turkish Medicines and Medical Devices Agency examines vaccines by sampling method.
In addition, the status of vaccines in the cold chain will be looked at for about a week. Square coding will also be done.
LOCAL VACCINE APPOINTMENTS ARE OPENING
According to the news of TRT, the vaccines will be transferred to health institutions after the examination and procedures. A new alternative will be offered alongside the Sinovac and Biontech vaccines. Appointments will be opened for Turkovac vaccines.
Widespread use of the local vaccine will be ensured, especially in city hospitals. The domestic vaccine is expected to be available this week.
“ONE HUNDRED PERCENT ANTIBODY”
Saying that there is no serious side effect related to the vaccine, Prof. Dr. Aykut Özdarendeli said, “Both the formation of protective antibodies and the 100% antibody response in all vaccinated volunteers is a very serious result.”
‘WE KNEW WE CAN’
On the other hand, Kayseri Erciyes University (ERÜ) Rector Prof. Dr. Mustafa Çalış said, “We are proud and happy that the Turkovac vaccine has been approved for emergency use. We have been waiting for this moment for 1.5 years. We knew from the very beginning that we would succeed.”
Rector Çalış, who said that the Ministry of Health coordinated the process after the phase 3 phase, said, “We transferred our vaccine to TÜSEB in return for the protocol. We, as Erciyes University, were involved in the study at every stage. In the phase 3 phase, our university was one of the application centers. 2 doses of Sinovac and the 3rd dose were given to TÜSEB. Faster progress has been made in patients who want to have Turkovac. Emergency use approval has been obtained. Phase 3 studies are still ongoing. I invite our volunteers to our university. Phase 3 also needs to be completed as soon as possible. We are happy and proud. We are proud of our university, especially Aykut Özdarendeli and his team. I congratulate you,” he said.
“IMMEDIATE USE PERMISSION WOULD NOT BE GIVEN IF THE RESULTS DID NOT GOOD”
Rector Çalış, who stated that they trust the Turkovac vaccine very much, said, “While he had not received any support from the beginning of the event, this work had started at Erciyes University and the preclinical study was continuing. Later, a call came from the Ministry of Health and TÜSEB. Working with the budget of both Erciyes University and TÜSEB. It was supported. If the results were not good in the Phase 3 phase, emergency use would not have been granted anyway. We trusted our vaccine. We got the result. We are happy and proud that we have a national vaccine, because there are a number of countries in the world that have achieved this. One of them is Turkey. A research university It is also a proud event for Erciyes University to achieve this,” he said.
“WE HAVE SEEN IT IS 100 PERCENT EFFECTIVE”
Noting that Turkovac is 100 percent effective on the ‘Alpha’ variant, Prof. Dr. Calis said, “We will of course not be idle. Our work on other variants continues. We have an unfinished Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever vaccine pending. We will continue to do so. Erciyes University will continue to work on many vaccines. In the ‘alpha’ variant, especially in ‘knockout mice’ mice. We saw that our Turkovac vaccine was 100 percent effective. We immediately switched to the ‘Delta’ variant. In ‘knockout mice’ related to the ‘Delta’ variant, the 1st dosing was completed and the 2nd dosing was done. This is a process. We also use the ‘Delta’ variant on human serums He is investigating the effect of the Turkovac vaccine against its variant.