Uğur Şahin

Turkey has finalized a deal to buy 60 million more doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine, with an option for an additional 30 million doses.

"This second supply agreement brings the total number of doses to be supplied to Turkey to up to 120 million, all of which will be delivered in 2021," according to a statement issued by BioNTech on May 20.

Profits from Covid-19 jabs have helped at least nine people become billionaires, a campaign group said on Thursday, calling for an end to pharmaceutical corporations' "monopoly control" on vaccine technology, AFP reported.

Turkey has signed an agreement for the procurement of over 90 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines, the country's Health Minister has said.

In June, some 30 million doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech jabs will arrive in Turkey, and the deliveries will continue in July, August, and September, Fahrettin Koca told reporters.

Germany's president conferred Turkish scientists ur Uğur Şahin and Özlem Türeci with the country's highest award on Friday for inventing the world's first effective vaccine against COVID-19.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier presented the Order of Merit to Şahin and Türeci at a ceremony held at the Bellevue Palace, which was also attended by Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The Turkish-German scientist who co-developed the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine said on March 8 the "grand mission" is "herd immunity" with enough jabs administered to tame the virus.  

In achieving this goal, Dr. Özlem Türeci stressed that no one will be safe until everyone is safe. 

Turkish-German scientist Uğur Şahin, who developed the Pfizer-BioNtech coronavirus vaccine together with his wife Dr. Özlem Türeci, will likely invest in Turkey to establish a medical research center, according to Mustafa Varank, Turkey's industry and technology minister.

Turkey is seeking to increase the amount of COVID-19 vaccine the Germany-based BioNTech company developed jointly with Pfizer it will receive, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca has said.

The minister held a videoconference with Professor Uğur Şahin, CEO and co-founder of BioNTech, to explore the prospects.

BioNTech is working flat out with partner Pfizer to boost production of their COVID-19 vaccine, its founders said, warning there would be gaps in supply until other vaccines were rolled out.

Turkey is considering joint vaccine production with the Germany-based BioNTech, which has developed a COVID-19 injection together with Pzifer, the country's industry and technology minister has said.

Ankara has already sealed a deal for the procurement of the BioNTech/Pfizer injection.

BioNTech is working flat out with partner Pfizer to boost production of their Covid-19 vaccine, its founders said, warning there would be gaps in supply until other vaccines were rolled out.