COVID-19 Turkey Update as of 2021
WHY GET VACCINATED AGAINST COVID-19 written by Prof. Dr. Necla Türek, Faculty Member, School of Medicine for Atılım University
The COVID-19 pandemic started in December 2019, and has continued ever since. To date, 195 million people have fallen sick, and over 4 million lives have been lost to the disease, worldwide. In Turkey, 5.6 million have contracted the disease, while the death toll has been 50.934. The numbers are estimated to be much worse in reality. In an effort to stop the pandemic, everyone should take all preventive measures.
Vaccination is the most effective method against transmissible diseases. Vaccines prepare your defense mechanism for battles against diseases, without making you sick. Vaccines have helped eradicate smallpox; also having decreased the mortality and disability rates of children’s diseases.
Vaccines are prepared through long, extensive procedures. They will not be approved, or enter into circulation without proper quality assurance, and without meeting international standards. The vaccines against COVID-19 were developed in a quick fashion, adhering to the highest safety standards possible; without compromising the rigor of the studies, and the safety of the vaccines. In addition, there are studies for vaccines of other types not yet in use.
Clinical studies have shown that although there are some differences between the COVID-19 vaccines in use, all of them have high protective effects and all of them prevent the disease from progressing severely, or from leading to deaths. COVID-19 vaccines do not cause COVID-19. As is the case with many types of medication, or a fewer number of other types of vaccines, the COVID-19 vaccine may have some temporary, local side effects.
Painkillers and antipyretics help with any discomfort. Vaccine-related serious side effects are extremely rare cases. COVID-19 may affect everyone, even children. A disease is a lot more likely to seriously harm an individual than a vaccine against it. To date, 3.8 billion people have been vaccinated in the world, 39.6 million people have received their first dose, and 23.3 million people have received their second dose, in Turkey.
In the case of transmissible diseases, if the number of individuals immune to a disease in a society is above a certain rate, the spread of that disease in the society will decrease significantly. The expression "herd immunity", one that is frequently used since the beginning of the pandemic, refers to community immunity.
For each infectious disease, the level of herd immunity required to stop its spread varies. Although the level varies according to the transmission rate of the disease agent and the effectiveness of the vaccines, approximately 60 to 70 million people in Turkey should be vaccinated in order to be able to control the COVID-19 pandemic. A large part of the society should be urgently vaccinated in order to be able to end the current pandemic.
Delaying the procedure leads to new variants being emerged. As the virus spreads among humans, it changes, resulting in variants that are more contagious, more severe, and more resistant to the effects of vaccines. Vaccination is the most effective method to protect people and stop the pandemic, as well as prevent the emergence of variants.
It is an individual and social responsibility for us to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in order to end the pandemic and return to the normal life that we have missed, as soon as possible. For the sake of our own, as well as for the sake of our loved ones and the society itself, please get vaccinated.
*The remarks by President Prof. Dr. M. Yıldırım ÜÇTUĞ of Atılım University on vaccination are as follows: “Dear Members, It has been our understanding that some of our colleagues and students have not yet been vaccinated, or are against the procedure. However, it is a vital responsibility regarding ourselves, our relatives, and the society in which we live, to get vaccinated against Covid. In this regard, I urge you to read the message above, by Prof. Dr. Necla Türek, Faculty Member, School of Medicine.”
COVID-19 Turkey Update as of 2020
To appreciate how the Turkey Higher Education System reacted to the spread of the virus, there are some organizational things you should informed about. After being declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, Corona Virus hit the universities hard all around the world and Turkey is with no exception.
On March 16, the universities in Turkey suspended face-to-face teaching and education was instantly replaced by digital online formats. This has seen the education system evolve about the “new-normal” for some months until recently. The reduction in mortality rates has since allowed some Turkish institutions to resolve contact lessons.
Every country has had its own border protection measures for COVID-19. It is recommended you to thoroughly research on travel restrictions before you plan your study abroad. For a while Turkey like all other states had shut down international travel but this has resolved lately. Now students from abroad can apply to Turkish universities within stipulated guidelines.
Since studies lately have been a blend of virtual and in-person studies, depending on the respective Covid-19 policies as per the respective state and university. As RocApply we are constantly sending newsletters to our students on the prevalent situation and remember to subscribe to access one.
Albeit, our best advice is to confirm directly on the university website how your university will structure upcoming semesters. For more information relating on specific subjects in this regard students are open to send us mails on [email protected] specifying COVID 19 UPDATE on the subject, our team is readily available to assist.
*This is an official public statement from RocApply Turkey and its partner institutions.
