Cafe workers, hairdressers, lawyers added to vaccine priority groups

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has announced that lawyers, restaurant/cafe workers and hairdressers will be able to get vaccinated without age limit starting on June 11.

A cafe personnel with a face mask is seen cleaning the tables in this file photo.

Duvar English

All lawyers, employees of the food production and distribution sector, cafes and restaurants, as well as barbers and hairdressers have been included in the COVID-19 vaccine priority program and can make an appointment starting on June 11, Health Ministery Fahrettin Koca announced.

“The designation of occupation groups in our vaccination program continues. As of tomorrow, employees of the food production and distribution sector, cafes and restaurants are included in the program,” Koca tweeted on June 10.

Shortly afterwards, Koca tweeted that hairdressers and barbers will similarly be able to get vaccinated starting on June 11.

In a third tweet, Koca said that lawyers have been also included in the program – without age limit.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry on June 10 confirmed 6,408 new coronavirus cases and 96 deaths from the virus. The number of new cases on June 9 was 6,454.

Turkey has administered over 32.2 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines since it launched a vaccination campaign in mid-January, according to official figures released on June 10.

More than 18.7 million people have received their first doses, while 13.48 million have been fully vaccinated, said the Health Ministry count. 

Turkey has been prioritizing the oldest age groups and certain occupational groups in its vaccination program.