Kurdistan announces COVID-19 ‘vaccine visa’ as jab demand increases
ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — People vaccinated against coronavirus in the Kurdistan Region will now receive a “vaccine visa”, announced the health ministry on Sunday, as demand for the jab increases.
"Out of the 55,820 received vaccines, more than 85% of the jabs have been taken [...] Fortunately enough there were no odd or dangerous side effects recorded," said health minister Saman Barzanji in a statement, claiming that three types of vaccines are available.
The Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) ministry of health and officials have called on people to get vaccinated for weeks.
Many people in the Kurdistan Region had been reluctant to get vaccinated, until the arrival of the American vaccine Pfizer last week, which appears to have kickstarted the increased demand.
"The demands for the vaccine are six times more than before," added Barzanji.
The minister also reiterated that no one will be vaccinated against the virus without pre-registration through an online application.
Those vaccinated will receive an internationally-recognized "vaccine visa" card, which he stressed will be significantly needed in the future.
According to the Erbil health directorate, the KRG is expected to receive 10 batches of Pfizer in the upcoming eight weeks, receiving 1,170 doses at a time.
Vaccination against COVID-19 began in the region in early March. Goran Othman, a health worker at the intensive care unit in Erbil's West Emergency Hospital, was the first to be vaccinated against the virus.
The Kurdistan Region recorded 1,074 new cases, 536 recoveries, 7 deaths on Sunday. The region has recorded 39,296 cases and 3,876 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
"Out of the 55,820 received vaccines, more than 85% of the jabs have been taken [...] Fortunately enough there were no odd or dangerous side effects recorded," said health minister Saman Barzanji in a statement, claiming that three types of vaccines are available.
The Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) ministry of health and officials have called on people to get vaccinated for weeks.
Many people in the Kurdistan Region had been reluctant to get vaccinated, until the arrival of the American vaccine Pfizer last week, which appears to have kickstarted the increased demand.
"The demands for the vaccine are six times more than before," added Barzanji.
The minister also reiterated that no one will be vaccinated against the virus without pre-registration through an online application.
Those vaccinated will receive an internationally-recognized "vaccine visa" card, which he stressed will be significantly needed in the future.
According to the Erbil health directorate, the KRG is expected to receive 10 batches of Pfizer in the upcoming eight weeks, receiving 1,170 doses at a time.
Vaccination against COVID-19 began in the region in early March. Goran Othman, a health worker at the intensive care unit in Erbil's West Emergency Hospital, was the first to be vaccinated against the virus.
The Kurdistan Region recorded 1,074 new cases, 536 recoveries, 7 deaths on Sunday. The region has recorded 39,296 cases and 3,876 deaths since the start of the pandemic.