By Zehra Nur Duz
ANKARA (AA) – Turkey has administered over 116.84 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since it launched an immunization drive in January, according to official figures released on Wednesday.
More than 55.51 million people have been given a first vaccine dose, while over 48.93 million are fully vaccinated, the Health Ministry said.
Turkey has also given third booster shots to over 11.25 million people.
Meanwhile, the ministry recorded 29,764 new coronavirus cases, 246 related deaths, and 33,366 recoveries over the past day.
As many as 363,238 new virus tests were done in the last 24 hours.
“Starting Thursday, a booster shot will be given to those who have received mRNA vaccine, based on risk groups,” Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said in a written statement following a virtual meeting of the Coronavirus Scientific Advisory Board.
Health workers, patients with chronic illnesses aged between 18-60, and people over 60 years old will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster shot six months after their second mRNA vaccine dose, Koca said.
Since December 2019, the pandemic has claimed over 5 million lives in at least 192 countries and regions, with nearly 248 million cases reported worldwide, according to the US-based Johns Hopkins University.
Turkey also continues its efforts to finalize tests of its locally developed Turcovac vaccine, which President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has vowed to share worldwide once it is ready.