When the data on the administration of the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine during pregnancy are assessed, the vaccination is recommended for all pregnant women. According to studies conducted, information has been published that vaccination does not increase the risk of miscarriage in pregnancy.

When the data on the administration of inactivated COVID-19 vaccine during lactation are assessed, the vaccination is recommended for breastfeeding women.

Vaccine safety and efficacy were the most important criteria in Turkey’s initial vaccine selection process. The Ministry of Health had three objectives when choosing the vaccine: choosing the vaccination with i) the broadest coverage, ii) availability in the shortest time, iii) and the greatest degree of safety. The vaccines are administered after the necessary analyzes are completed.

The Turkish Republic's Ministry of Health has determined the order of groups to receive the COVID-19 vaccine by evaluating the risk of exposure to the disease, the risk of having the disease with a severe course, the risk of transmitting the disease, and the negative impact of the disease on the functioning of social life. 

Healthcare professionals executing the pandemic response via diagnosis and treatment of the disease are the group with the highest exposure to the COVID-19 virus. It is critical for the uninterrupted continuation of the country’s healthcare services that healthcare professionals do not become unwell. For this reason, healthcare professionals are in the top priority group for vaccination.

People aged 65 and older have a higher risk of having the disease with a severe course that might necessitate hospitalization and may cause death. Therefore, this age group was placed among the vaccination priority groups to prevent serious morbidity and reduce mortality rates.

The inactivated COVID-19 vaccine is not administered to people who are suffering from COVID-19 right now, to people who have had COVID-19 (confirmed by PCR test) within 30 days, and to people who have had contact with a COVID-19 positive case (confirmed by PCR test) within 10 days prior to vaccination. 

Individuals with a history of allergy/anaphylaxis against any substance contained in the vaccine should NOT receive the vaccine. If the person being vaccinated has experienced significant allergic reactions before, s/he should report this to the healthcare professional carrying out the vaccination before vaccination. As with all other vaccines, individuals suffering from high fever (38ºC and above), undiagnosed diseases or exacerbation of chronic diseases should postpone vaccination.

Eggs are not used in the production process of this vaccine. Therefore, the inactivated COVID-19 vaccine can be administered to people with egg allergy. People who are allergic to antibiotics such as penicillin which is defined, medicines and eggs, bee-pollen etc. can get the COVID-19 vaccine. These people, like all vaccinated persons, should not leave the healthcare facility for 15-30 minutes after vaccination for follow-up.

Until now, no serious side effects have been observed in both clinical trials conducted for the COVID-19 vaccines and in the routinely vaccinated population within Turkey. Post vaccination side effects are often mild. These mild side effects may include fatigue, headache, fever, chills, muscle/joint pain, vomiting, diarrhea, pain, redness and swelling around the area of injection. However, it should be noted that if any side effects other than those mentioned are to occur after vaccination, please seek medical attention and inform the physician that you have received the vaccine, without ignoring the possibility of rare serious allergic reactions.

The COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2) produced by the Biontech company contains; mRNA, lipids, potassium chloride, monobasic potassium phosphate, sodium chloride, dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate and sucrose.

In clinical studies, the protective effect of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine against the disease has been shown to be high.

It will be administered as a total of two doses, doses three weeks apart.

When the data on the administration of the COVID-19 mRNA vaccine during pregnancy are assessed, the vaccination is recommended for all pregnant women. According to studies conducted, information has been published that vaccination does not increase the risk of miscarriage in pregnancy.

When the data on the administration of COVID-19 mRNA vaccine during lactation is assessed, the vaccination is recommended for breastfeeding women.