Two unvaccinated doctors die of COVID-19 in Turkey

Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca announced on Aug. 25 that two unvaccinated doctors have lost their lives after contracting the COVID-19. As Turkey continues to battle the rising daily case and death numbers, Koca has been urging citizens to receive their jabs as soon as possible.

Thursday August 26 2021 12:39 am

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Turkish Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has announced that two unvaccinated doctors have lost their lives to the COVID-19.

“Two of our colleagues have succumbed to the COVID-19. Operator Dr. İlhami Atılgan was aged 55 and pathologist Dr. Murat Tad was aged 59. We have unfortunately found out from our records that the two valuable doctors have not received their jabs,” Koca tweeted.

İKİ ARKADAŞIMIZ Covid-19’a yenildi. Operatör Dr. İlhami Atılgan 55, Patolog Dr. Murat Tad 49 yaşındaydı. Kayıtlarımızdan maalesef, iki değerli hekimin aşı olmadığını öğrendik. Meslektaşlarımıza Allah’tan rahmet, ailelerine başsağlığı diliyoruz. Benzer acılar artık yaşanmasın.
— Dr. Fahrettin Koca (@drfahrettinkoca) August 25, 2021

Operator Dr. Atılgan was reported to be working as a gynecologist at a private Ankara clinic, whereas Dr. Tad was working as an academic at the Kırşehir Training and Research Hospital.

As Turkey continues to battle the rising daily case and death numbers, Koca has been urging citizens to receive their jabs as soon as possible.

Doctors around the country have been calling on more people to get their shots, highlighting that a considerable amount of COVID-19 patients are those who are not vaccinated. They note that a further delay in vaccinations will lead to a possible fourth peak in the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry on Aug. 25 reported 19,970 new COVID-19 cases and 217 fatalities from the virus.

Turkey, with a population of 83 million, administered 91 million vaccine doses in total, according to the latest data published by the ministry.

The data showed that at least 75.64 percent of the country's adult population has received at least one dose of a two-shot vaccine.

Over 46.94 million people have received the first dose, while more than 35.9 million are fully vaccinated, the ministry said.

Turkey has also given third booster shots to over 8.05 million people.