Minister Koca answered questions on various topics on his social media account.
“The issues are being diverted. Some opinions and insistent statements are definitely not for scientific purposes.
There is science behind all decisions made throughout the pandemic. We have never ignored the scientific developments. Is it possible for a team that managed the struggle with scientific data to turn its back on science at a point where everything would be easier if necessary? Those who want to portray us as the opposite cannot be so ignorant that they do not know about the successful vaccination practices carried out in our country. Why is the rate of childhood vaccinations over 95%?
When the Covid-19 pandemic began, we closely followed all the vaccine studies and tried to develop and produce our own vaccine as soon as possible. Finally, we developed Turkovac. At that time, we quickly carried out a vaccination campaign throughout the country and were very successful as a result. There was lots of news of healthcare professionals losing their lives. The number of deaths decreased significantly after healthcare professionals were vaccinated.
The vaccine was essential at that time to break the resistance of the pandemic. We encountered the virus for the first time and our immune system needed to recognize the virus. Our vaccination campaign worked very well. Since the virus is an RNA virus, it has undergone various mutations and its virulence, that is, its ability to cause illness, has decreased. We either had Covid or were vaccinated, or both, and as a result, our bodies came to recognize the virus. The impact of the virus has also diminished. New vaccines are being developed according to the mutation. It's normal.
However, at this point, a propaganda is being carried out. It is a mass vaccination propaganda. We are in a period where mass vaccination is absolutely not needed. We did what was necessary when necessary. Collective measures such as lockdown are no longer in question. I say it clearly: There are no new measures for Covid-19 other than the existing personal measures.
Türkiye will not follow the global propaganda. Türkiye is fully independent regarding health, too. There is no situation confirmed by science that requires the Covid-19 vaccine to be mass administered again. Health and science are not included in the field of marketing.”
