Coronavirus: Astra Zeneca vaccines handed over to Turkish Cypriots

Two thousand Astra Zeneca vaccines were delivered Thursday to the Turkish Cypriot community, part of the EU jabs reserved for Cyprus.

The vaccines were delivered at 9am through the bicommunal technical committee on health.

The Turkish Cypriot co-chairman of the committee Cenk Soydan said the vaccines were earmarked for people between 55 and 65. The second doses will be delivered later, he said.

Soydan said they also expected a delivery of rapid tests from the EU.

They also expect more vaccines from Turkey.

Turkish Cypriots have already received 4,500 PfizerBiontec jabs through the EU in January and February.

Turkey has also delivered 80,000 Sinovac doses to the north.

The Republic had included the needs of the Turkish Cypriots in the vaccination planning as they were expressed through the bicommunal technical committee on health.

Turkish Cypriots said they requested 400,000 doses but there has not been a clear response yet as to the final number that will be delivered.

The ministry of health said when vaccines were first ordered it had asked for 1.2 million doses to cover the needs of the Turkish Cypriots.