COVID-19 Vaccination Program for Foreigners in Turkey

By. Justin Mays

The vaccination program in Turkey has been hailed a success by the Minister of Health, Fahrettin Koca, since it began in January 2021. He indicated that over 100 million COVID-19 doses have been administered with 81.6% of adults having received their first dose.

Turkish citizens and foreigners with residents permit and working permits were vaccinated first when the program began. Later, all foreigners who are legally in the country were added to the list. Currently, foreigners who entered Turkey legally and become illegal later are advised to go and get their vaccination shots.

However, the vaccination program is not open to irregular migrants who entered Turkey illegally. Foreigners who qualify for this program can apply at vaccination centers with their foreign identity number and passport.  If they have not renewed their work permit and residence permit, they should use a foreign Identification number starting with 99.

Vaccines are important for everyone since they protect you and everyone around you. COVID-19 vaccines are safe and have undergone all critical stages of clinical trials. A study by Cavanaugh et al 2021 - (Reduced Risk of Reinfection with SARS-CoV-2 After COVID-19 Vaccination — Kentucky, May–June 2021) concluded that unvaccinated people who have had COVID-19 before are two times more likely to be infected again compared to those that are fully vaccinated.

Other measures have been put up in the country to curb this pandemic. Wearing a face mask has been made mandatory in all public places and one must also produce the (Hayat Eve Sigar – Life Fits into Home) HES Code in shopping malls, banks, most public sectors, and private sector organizations. The HES code helps you safely share your Covid-19 risk status with individuals and institutions for daily activities such as transportation or circulations for traveling.