Turkish health minister shares details on jab rates by province

By Handan Kazanci

ISTANBUL (AA) – Turkey's health minister on Friday released information on 10 provinces with the highest COVID-19 vaccination rate.

“The rate of those who have received at least one dose of vaccine is increasing,” Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter.

According to the table shared by Koca, the country's northwestern province of Edirne has the highest coronavirus vaccination rate, 68.86%.

The city is followed by the Black Sea province of Amasya with 67.66 %, central Eskisehir province 67.54 %, western Canakkale province 67.31 %, northwestern Kirklareli province 66.74 %, western provinces of Balikesir 65.16 %, Mugla 64.49 %, Burdur 64.38 %, Bilecik 64.23 %, and Black Sea province of Sinop 64.03 %.

Turkey lowered the COVID-19 vaccination eligibility age to 18, and appointments have begun as of Friday.

According to latest official figures, Turkey's overall case tally is over 5.39 million, while the nationwide death toll has reached 49,417.

Additionally, nearly 46 million doses of coronavirus vaccines have been administered since a mass vaccination campaign was launched in mid-January.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also on Tuesday unveiled Turkovac, the country's homegrown COVID-19 vaccine candidate, which has entered Phase 3 clinical trials.

Amid a nationwide fall in COVID-19 cases, Turkey is set to end all restrictions, which include nighttime curfews and a full lockdown on Sundays, as of July 1.