Low turnout suspends corona vaccination campaign in Syria’s Derik
DERIK, Syria (North Press) – On Wednesday, a Health official in Derik, far northeast Syria, revealed that they have temporarily suspended COVID-19 vaccination till next Sunday due to low turnout of people.
Each package of vaccine is sufficient for ten people, but because of low turnout and to prevent wasting the vaccine, we have temporarily suspended the process, Fadil Abdullah, official of vaccines in Derik, told North Press.
So far, they have conducted 320 vaccinations with the AstraZeneca anti-Corona vaccine in Derik Hospital, and both Newroz and Roj Camps.
The vaccination campaign included people who are above 55 years old, and those who are above 18 with chronic diseases.
The campaign will be resumed next Sunday, on June 20, and it will last for 3 days.
Abdullah pointed out that the turnout rate was “average”, as they expected to vaccinate about a thousand people.
The vaccine is expired on August 23, and there are another 500 vaccines that will be given to people who received the first dose, he added.
Marwan Ibrahim, 60, a resident of Derik, told North Press that he received the first dose of the vaccine on June 10 at the city hospital.
He added that he did not show any side effects.
Ibrahim considered that there was a failure to educate the population about the importance of receiving the vaccine, whether through the media or by distributing brochures to the population.
He called on the population to take the vaccine,” because if it were not efficient, the advanced states and Health Organizations would not give it to people.”
However, Ali Ahmed, 65, a resident of Derik, refused to receive the vaccine, because he heard from some people that it was not good.
Since June 9, the vaccination campaign against the coronavirus has started in Derik City Hospital, and will continue until June 22.
Last week, the COVID-19 vaccination campaign for the elderly and those suffering from chronic diseases, started in the hospital of Derik with 500 doses, and 100 doses for the residents of the two camps of Roj and Newroz.