When the first case of COVID-19 was diagnosed in Turkey nearly a year ago, on 11 March, 2020, none of us could have predicted we were in such dire straits. This pandemic, initially dismissed as insignificant, later transformed into a problem so profound that it completely changed our way of life. Now, no matter what we do, we always consider the pandemic first. I can’t bring myself to say it, but wearing a mask has become practically normal in our lives. So, are we going to accept this situation and learn to live with this pandemic for years to come? Of course not.
We need to do everything we can to end the pandemic as soon as possible. I’m telling our government this. Of course, as citizens, there’s nothing we can do. The course of the pandemic is not good either. Even the slightest easing of established rules causes the numbers to skyrocket. For example, the weekend curfew was lifted for Saturday earlier this month (now only on Sundays). The numbers rose significantly again during the first weekend of this easing. Our fellow citizens, fed up with spending time at home, flocked to restaurants en masse. This only made the situation worse.
Slacking off is harmful.
You can find related news below:
https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/gundem/yasaksiz-ilk-cumartesinin-kiymetini-bilemedik-41756816
What needs to be done is quite clear. I believe that if the recommendations below are implemented without compromise, it is possible to completely end the pandemic within a year. This is shared with the relevant parties.
1) Vaccines
The most crucial step in overcoming COVID-19 is to supply the country with sufficient vaccines as quickly as possible, ensuring that these vaccines are administered to all citizens as quickly as possible (with a schedule that will not exceed one year), making vaccination mandatory if necessary, and opting for BioNtech’s vaccine, which is the most effective vaccine. Now let’s elaborate:
a) Procuring sufficient doses as soon as possible: If our country has a population of 80 million, it is necessary to procure enough doses as soon as possible to provide everyone with two doses. Of course, having backups is also crucial to prevent disruptions to the vaccination process.
For example, twice the population, 160 million doses, should be purchased as soon as possible, and half the population should be backed up. So, if we calculate two doses out of 40 million, we need to have 80 million doses in reserve. This backed up supply should be continuously increased as needed. Until we see the end of the pandemic. A total of 240 million doses must be purchased as soon as possible.
I can almost hear some people saying, “This is a very serious cost.” I ask them this: Do we have a higher priority than the COVID-19 pandemic? Our citizens are losing their lives. Human health is always our priority.
If you’re talking about cost, then consider this: The economic damage inflicted on the country by COVID-19 is far greater than the cost of vaccines. Purchasing vaccines should be a priority in utilizing our country’s financial resources.
Even a country like the US, which leads the global economy, has made the fight against COVID-19 a priority. In fact, President-elect Biden recently passed a $1.9 trillion (you read that correctly, one point nine trillion dollars) relief fund to combat the pandemic through the US Congress. I’m sharing the related news: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/10/stimulus-update-house-passes-1point9-trillion-covid-relief-bill-sends-to-biden.html . The plan includes many items, including unemployment benefits, direct payments, increased tax credits, vaccine distribution funds, and state and local government support. I hope this goes for our country.
b) Prioritizing the BioNTech vaccine for delivery to the country: Based on the articles I’ve read, the reports I’ve reviewed, and my conversations with experts, I’ve decided that the most effective vaccine is the BioNTech/Pfizer vaccine, produced using m-RNA technology. One of the reasons for this decision is the announced efficacy rates. BioNTech’s vaccine, which has the highest efficacy rate at 95%, stands out to me because of the mRNA technique it uses and the identities of its discoverers. This is a major advantage for Türkiye. The vaccine’s discoverers, Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci, are of Turkish origin. Although they are German citizens and this is a German company, I am confident they will do everything they can for Turkey, where they originated and grew up.
Without resorting to any other vaccines, all resources must be mobilized to bring 160 million doses of the BioNTech vaccine to Turkey as soon as possible, enough to fully vaccinate the country’s population.
In addition, 80 million doses of Moderna (US), AstraZeneca (UK), Sinovac (China), and Sputnik V (Russia) and their equivalents can be imported. While the effectiveness rates of vaccines produced using conventional methods, such as viral vectors or inactivated vaccines, are relatively lower, the implementation of such vaccines will provide a significant advantage in the fight against the pandemic.
c) Ensuring the swiftest vaccination: A well-established logistics network is essential. All channels must be utilized in this process. All possible channels, including private and public hospitals (even hospitals focusing on a specific area, such as eye hospitals, can be included), clinics, polyclinics, family physicians, nursing homes (with nurses provided), and private home care nurses, should be utilized.
d) Completing the entire vaccination process within one year: Planning should be made to vaccinate the entire population within one year. I’m not talking about a single dose. I’m talking about administering the two doses they say are necessary to the entire population. So, if we say two doses per person, I mean administering 160 million doses of the BioNtech vaccine to the entire country.
e) Making vaccinations mandatory: There are many people who say they’re not sure about vaccines. There are also those who oppose vaccinations. Vaccination should be made mandatory for public health. This is completely uncontroversial. You can’t talk to some people. Even Atatürk once said, “If one day my words contradict science, choose science.” I agree, and I recommend that vaccinations be mandatory for the sake of people’s own health and public health. Those who avoid vaccination should be subject to severe penalties, as they threaten public health.
f) Domestic production to guarantee vaccine supply: If possible, BioNTech; if not, one or more of the other vaccines should be produced in Turkey. This issue is, in a sense, a matter of national security.
I am listing all the points based on experience. When you look at countries that have successfully managed the vaccination process, you can see that they have made significant progress in the fight against COVID-19. We can give the UK as an example in this regard. In the early stages of the pandemic, the UK faced the outbreak with a completely flawed plan, such as the “herd immunity” strategy. Because of this flawed strategy, more than 120,000 people in the UK lost their lives to COVID-19 within a year. When they realized that the number of people infected with the virus was growing like an avalanche and they were unable to cope, they immediately changed their strategy and got on the right track. The most important part of their strategy was to rapidly procure vaccines and vaccinate their citizens as quickly as possible. They began to solve a nightmare problem and managed to become a model country within three months. Here’s a news article about the UK in the media titled “From plague island to envied country”: https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/dunya/3-ay-icinde-veba-adasindan-kiskanilan-ulke-konumuna-geldiler-ingilterede-neler-oliyor-41758069
Let me share some numbers for a better understanding of the issue: The UK, which has the highest total death toll in Europe, approved the use of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in December 2020, and shortly thereafter, the AstraZeneca vaccine, developed by Oxford University. Vaccination in the UK, with a population of approximately 67 million, began on 8 December, and according to a BBC report on 7 March, the number of people who have received at least one dose of the vaccine has surpassed 21 million. According to figures released by the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), 38% of the population over the age of 16 has been vaccinated with at least one dose. Experts predict that the UK, which has established a system that allows over 400,000 people to be vaccinated daily, will achieve herd immunity within 4 to 8 months, most likely by mid-July. The same goes for Turkey.
2) Quarantine
Quarantine processes are essential. However, because vaccination is progressing very slowly, the impact of quarantine is limited. Assuming that vaccinations are carried out quickly, the following steps should be taken:
- a) The entire country should be quarantined for two months. More than half of the country should receive their first dose of the vaccine during this period.
- b) Vaccinated individuals can go out with a special ID if they have completed both doses.
- c) After two months, evening hours (after 8 p.m.) and weekends should be strictly prohibited for everyone until herd immunity is achieved.
3) Masks
Until herd immunity is achieved, masks should be mandatory for everyone outdoors (vaccinated and unvaccinated). Because vaccinated people not wearing masks will encourage unvaccinated people not to wear masks, this rule should be strictly enforced.
4) Support for SMEs
Restaurants, barbershops, and all establishments that rely on customers visiting their businesses must be supported until herd immunity is achieved. Restaurants must offer outdoor service, and windows must be opened in places like barbershops and hair salons.
5) Sanctions
Severe sanctions must be imposed on those who organize and attend mass events like house parties and entertainment. Organizers who disobey and put the health of dozens of people at risk should even be sentenced to a term of imprisonment.
Recently, on the morning of the first weekend of Saturday’s release, a house party was held two floors below my residence. The music blared until 5 a.m., and we were subjected to all the noise two floors above. Consequently, I had difficulty falling asleep, and occasionally, the music woke me up and put me back to sleep. I normally wake up at 5 a.m., but I woke up at 4:30 a.m. because of the music. I couldn’t sleep. I got out of bed. As always, I got my dog Sunny ready first thing, and at 5:15 a.m., we boarded the elevator together to take her out. The elevator stopped two floors down, and when the doors opened, two overdressed young women, beyond tipsy, mouths twitching, asked, “Is the elevator available?” I told them, “My dog Sunny and I are here. There’s not much room, but you’re welcome to come in if you’d like.” Imagine the scene: I’m just starting my day, and they’re about to finish theirs. I’m freshly up with Sunny, getting ready to run together, while the young women leaving the party are trying to get home with a clear head during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After my less-than-encouraging feedback, they said, “Let’s take the next elevator then.” I told them, “Okay, good luck, and don’t forget to put on your mask.” One of the girls looked at me blankly, and then the elevator door closed.
I know the guy who organized that party. We’ve warned him before about his raucous parties, and he kept doing it. I sent him another message through someone else. Organizing a party like this, while experiencing the profound effects of the pandemic in such an apartment building, is, to say the least, irresponsible. I plan to speak to that person directly from now on. As you can appreciate, since he doesn’t understand words, I’ll give him the necessary warning this time, in a stern tone.
People never consider that their own irresponsibility can harm others.
6) Fighting Hunger and Boosting the Collective Immunity System
The state needs to ensure everyone has good nutrition. Therefore, collaboration with NGOs specialized in this area should be made possible through the necessary supplements to ensure that no one in the country goes hungry and that they even enjoy good nutrition. I can give an example of this: TİDER (Basic Needs Association), the umbrella organization for food banking, which I founded. Supporting organizations like TİDER could expand the food banking network nationwide, and through this channel, those in need could be provided with basic needs like food and cleaning products. If necessary, vitamin supplements could even be provided to those with weaker bodies.
Let’s not forget that those with a weak immune system also have a weaker immune system. Those with a weak immune system are much more likely to die and, at best, have a very severe recovery from COVID-19.
7) Our Way of Life
We need to rethink our way of life. Public service announcements can be released for the following suggestions:
- Hygiene: Mass training sessions can be organized to establish habits such as hand hygiene, cleaning our spaces, and showering daily.
- Greeting Culture: Instead of hugging and kissing cheek to cheek, greetings at a distance, such as the Japanese greeting, can be promoted in society. By adding something reflective of our culture to the Japanese greeting, such as bringing the hand to the heart, a new Turkish greeting could gain social acceptance.
- Visiting Elders Culture: Until the pandemic is over, visits to our elders can be organized by keeping a distance and keeping our distance.
8) Transportation and Tourism
Air, land, and sea transportation must remain at 50% restrictions until the pandemic is over. Relaxing this is not the right strategy. Of course, having said that, decisions to the contrary have unfortunately begun to emerge. I’m sharing the related news: https://www.milliyet.com.tr/ekonomi/son-dakika-sehirler-arasi-otobuslerde-yuzde-50-koltuk-sinirlamasi-kaldirildi-6451535
Furthermore, a digital vaccination ID should be created, allowing those who have been vaccinated or those who have not tested positive (with a negative test result) to travel. The digital vaccination ID system, which the EU announced will be ready within three months, has begun in China. With a vaccination ID, Chinese people will be able to travel internationally. I’m sharing the related news: https://www.cnnturk.com/dunya/cin-dijital-asi-kimligi-dagitimina-basladi
Furthermore, from now on, we should only allow vaccinated tourists into the country. We can determine this by looking at individuals’ digital vaccination IDs.
9) Converting face-to-face meetings to online
Until the pandemic is under control, all face-to-face meetings in the public, private, and NGO sectors must be converted to online meetings. It’s time to understand that holding meetings in closed spaces and staying in the same place for extended periods is unhealthy. Public sector employees need to act accordingly, and all services provided must be converted to digital. If this system is implemented, it will provide us with significant advantages in the long run. No one will need to travel or travel from one place to another.
Developed countries like the UK, facing very difficult situations, have quickly implemented the right strategies, using the mindset of “the right way to go is the right way to go.” As a result, the UK is expected to achieve mass immunity and bring the pandemic under control before autumn.
For our country, focusing on resolving the challenges faced by the pandemic as soon as possible, rather than prolonging them, will be the right strategy. This is because the COVID-19 pandemic we are experiencing has not only paralyzed all of our lives but also continues to cause irreparable damage to the national economy.
That’s why I’m calling out to those concerned: Let’s start implementing the suggestions I’ve listed above without wasting any time.
Tag: education
