Turkey could receive up to 4.5 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine developed by BioNTech and Pfizer in late March, with the number potentially reaching 30 million by the end of 2021, said the co-founder and CEO of BioNTech, Uğur Şahin, on Saturday.
Şahin’s comments came a day after Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced on Friday that Turkey had reached an agreement with BioNTech to purchase 550,000 doses for the initial shipment, with the option to purchase up to 30 million doses.
In announcing the deal on Twitter, Koca said the reason for the delay in the deal was due to liability issues.
“The reason for the delay was the fact that the producer did not assume any responsibility in relation to potential problems that could arise with the production,” he said, adding that the divergence was later resolved.
“Citizens who wish to receive a dose will be asked to obtain informed consent,” said Koca.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA), Şahin said he was happy to sign an agreement that allowed him to help his homeland. Şahin was born in the province of Iskenderun, in southeastern Turkey, in 1965, before moving to Germany at the age of 4.
Explaining the details of the agreement, Şahin said that business logistics and the training of health professionals who will make the vaccines were the priority for the first part of the vaccine delivery, 550,000 doses.
The BioNTech / Pfizer vaccine must be shipped and stored at minus 70 degrees Celsius, the type of temperature typical of an Antarctic winter. Combined with orders that reach millions of doses, the vaccine presents logistical problems unprecedented for many countries.
“That amount will arrive in Turkey at the end of the year. First, we need to prepare for logistics. What are the potential side effects of the vaccine, allergic reaction for example, what needs to be done when this happens, all of this information needs to be shared properly. We need health professionals to be prepared, we want vaccines to be made safely, ”he said.
“We expect to send 30 million doses by the end of 2021. We are planning to send 4.5 million doses by the end of March, as these vaccines are needed worldwide. We want to administer these doses fairly. Hopefully, at the end of next year, we will be able to deliver the 30 million doses we have combined, ”Şahin told an AA reporter.
Speaking of any potential deals that exceed the 30 million dose agreement, Şahin said it would depend on availability.
“We want to produce around 1 billion doses in cooperation with Pfizer next year. We need to deliver these vaccines to 80 countries. As long as we have the doses, we would be more than willing to supply more to Turkey, ”he said.
But he warned that vaccine production is a complex process and that the real goal of reaching 1.3 billion doses may require cooperation with other companies.
“We will return to work with other companies. If we can execute our plans on how to increase capacity, we can release it in January or February. I believe that we can increase it. We don’t have a guaranteed plan yet. “
Liability and side effects
Regarding the liability issues that delayed the deal from being done earlier, Şahin thanked Koca for the help the minister provided during the negotiations, explaining that the disagreement was about the company’s desire to limit liability in the event of a lawsuit due to side effects.
“We do business with the same terms for all countries. Europe, USA, Japan, all had the same standards. Limited liability is determining how much our company can take responsibility for, ”he said, adding that the lawsuits usually involve exorbitant sums that can bankrupt a company.
“When you do something, people can sue you for it. You also know, they can claim ‘this or that happened’. When that happens, we are helpless because there may be lawsuits demanding billions. It makes our life more difficult. We made a vaccine safe for people. But that does not mean that we are protected from lawsuits. That is why we need certain limits to protect the company, ”explained Şahin.
According to Şahin, about 1.5 million people have already been inoculated with the mRNA-based coronavirus vaccine found by his company, and no serious side effects have been reported yet.
The most common side effects of the vaccine are headache, fatigue, pain in the arm that received the vaccine and fever in rare cases. Şahin said that all side effects usually disappear in two days.
The most serious side effect, however, is an allergic reaction, which occurs 30 minutes after inoculation and at a rate of 1 in 50,000 people.
“An allergic reaction can happen in the first 30 minutes after receiving the injection. That’s why health workers need to be around for 30 minutes. This may be the only significant side effect, ”said Şahin.
Precaution is still an obligation
As countries around the world were preparing for the monumental task of vaccinating their population, with some nations already started, there was growing hope that life will soon return to normal after a long year in the shadow of the coronavirus pandemic.
But Şahin warns that care must stay a little longer – at least until vaccination rates of 70% are reached among populations.
“Our vaccines will not be able to contain infections in the winter. People need to continue to act with discipline, protecting themselves and others. Vaccines will go first to the elderly and health workers. We can protect them, ”he said.
Recalling that Turkey also signed an agreement with the Chinese biopharmaceutical company Sinovac for 50 million doses, Şahin said that reaching a limit on the number of people vaccinated is essential before returning to normal.
“We need to vaccinate 70% of people. If we succeed before the next winter comes, we can return to a normal life. It is vital to maintain discipline, ”he said.
Regarding Turkey’s agreement with Sinovac, Şahin said it was a good move by Turkey to ensure enough doses to reach the 70% limit.
“China’s vaccine also shows its effectiveness. I think it is about 85% or 86% effective. This can be considered a good and effective vaccine. There should be no concern if the vaccine is from BioNTech, China or any other government. Chinese scientists developed this vaccine after a long process of experimentation and clinical testing. The important thing is that Turkey produces the necessary number of doses, ”said Şahin.
While Şahin cited an 85% efficiency rate for the Sinovac vaccine, Turkey said on Thursday that it was 91.25% effective according to provisional data from a final stage study involving 7,371 volunteers.
With an initial shipment of 3 million doses of the Sinovac vaccine arriving in Turkey on Monday, nearly 9 million people are due to be vaccinated in the first phase, starting with health professionals and people at risk.
According to Dr. Serhat Ünal, an infectious disease specialist who works on Turkey’s Coronavirus Scientific Advisory Board, no major side effects were detected during vaccine testing in Turkey, except in one case where an allergic reaction was observed .
Sinovac has also closed supply agreements for its vaccine with countries like Indonesia, Brazil, Chile and Singapore, and negotiations with the Philippines and Malaysia are ongoing.
Turkey branch
In addition to BioNTech’s coronavirus vaccine, Şahin said the company is involved in other branches of research and announced that the company is in talks to open a branch in Turkey.
“We are bringing our products to Turkey for the first time. We also want to conduct research in Turkey. We are in negotiations with the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council (TÜBITAK). We are also in contact with several professors at various universities. We want to establish a BioNTech branch in Turkey, ”he said.
“We want to do cancer research in Turkey, in addition to our work with vaccines for infectious diseases. Hopefully, we will start conducting clinical cancer studies in Turkey next summer. We have plans. We want to reach them. “
Şahin said the company’s long-term goal is to open several offices in Turkey and conduct research and development studies. But life needs to get back to normal first, he warned.
“We want to work with Turkish universities and companies. In the first year, we can carry out three projects and go from there, if we are successful. “
Şahin urged people once again not to give up precautions.
“We need to avoid putting other people or our loved ones in danger. Help is on the way. Will be here in the summer. We need to be patient. Hopefully, we will have a chance to return to our normal lives at the end of next summer. Let’s celebrate our success together then. “