Over 119.7M coronavirus vaccine shots given in Turkey to date

By Seda Sevencan

ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkey has administered over 119.72 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since it launched an immunization drive in January, according to official figures released on Wednesday.

More than 56.1 million people have gotten a first vaccine dose and over 50.1 million have been fully vaccinated, the Health Ministry said.

Turkey has also given third booster shots to more than 12 million people.

The ministry recorded 27,592 new coronavirus cases, 175 deaths and 28,285 recoveries over the past day.

As many as 364,351 virus tests were done in the past 24 hours, the data showed.

On Twitter, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic has lasted longer than expectations has demoralized and demotivated people, yet, its reality is still there with high infection and death rates.

“But with the high number of cases and deaths, the truth is in front of us again and again every day. We cannot ignore COVID-19,” Koca added, urging a determined fight against the coronavirus.

Since December 2019, the pandemic has claimed over 5.17 million lives in at least 192 countries and regions, with more than 259 million cases reported worldwide, according to the US' Johns Hopkins University.