14.04.2025 14:21
Health Minister Kemal Memişoğlu announced that the "6-component combination vaccine," which combines the 5-component combination vaccine for children, including diphtheria, acellular pertussis, tetanus, polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type B, with the hepatitis B vaccine, has been launched as of today. The vaccine will be administered free of charge at all healthcare institutions, primarily at Family Health Centers.
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The first application of the 6-component combination vaccine was carried out at the Çayyolu Education Family Health Center located in Ankara. The program was attended by Minister of Health Kemal Memişoğlu, General Director of Public Health Muhammed Emin Demirkol, Provincial Health Director Ali Niyazi Kurtcebe, and healthcare workers.
Speaking before the vaccination, Minister Memişoğlu stated that they launched the 'Healthy Life Academy' program last week, saying, "This program has been activated in all our units to explain the health culture, health knowledge, and how a healthy life should be to our community. Our people will learn how to eat, exercise, and the ways to stay healthy in life through our healthy life centers and health units. Young people, please visit the healthy life centers. We provide them with all kinds of support, from treadmills to gyms, from our nutrition and diet experts to our psychologists. My special request from the youth is to visit these healthy life centers," he said.
"VACCINES ARE OUR WEAPONS AGAINST DISEASES"
Minister Memişoğlu stated that they included the whooping cough vaccine in the vaccination program at the beginning of April, saying, "As of today, we are adding the hepatitis B vaccine to our 5-component combination vaccine, which provides protection against diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, and Haemophilus influenzae type B. Thus, our combination vaccine has been included in the program to protect against 6 diseases, in line with the recommendations of our advisory board. Thanks to vaccines, humanity is now fighting infectious diseases much more comfortably. Our life expectancy has increased. The most important reason we do not see polio, we do not see diphtheria, and the fact that smallpox no longer exists in the world is vaccines. Just as we pay attention to our diet and prioritize protection, vaccines are also our most important weapons against infectious and epidemic diseases. Vaccines ensure that our children do not get sick and are not affected by infectious diseases. Therefore, we expect our community to comply with vaccination programs and to act in accordance with the recommendations of our doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers. Health is everything. The most important source of a person's happiness is health. We must know how to protect our health without losing it. Our bodies are entrusted to each of us," he said.
"WE ARE NOT THE MINISTRY OF DISEASE, WE ARE THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH"
Minister Memişoğlu stated that they provide exemplary services in treatment, saying, "Especially in the last 22 years, under the leadership of our President Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey has become a country that sets an example to the world in health services. But we also need to collectively overcome this issue in a way that protects our health without getting sick. It is not just the healthcare professionals; the entire community needs to support and strive to stay healthy. Unfortunately, when you look around, still 1 in 3 of our people use tobacco. 1 in 4 of our people is overweight. All of these eventually turn into diseases, unfortunately, into unhealthiness. Therefore, let us appreciate the value of our health. We are not the Ministry of Disease; we are the Ministry of Health. First and foremost, we want our people to stay healthy and protect themselves. Vaccination is one of the most important of these. Therefore, we want our people, our children, especially our babies, to get their vaccinations on time and comply with vaccination programs," he said.
After his speech, Minister Memişoğlu responded to a question regarding Sivasspor's display of a banner reading 'Natural is normal birth' during their match against Fenerbahçe yesterday, saying, "Do only men come to football matches?"
THE 6 COMPONENT VACCINE WILL BE ADMINISTERED FREE OF CHARGE
The Ministry of Health's National Childhood Vaccination Schedule was updated in 2025. The '6-component combination vaccine', which combines the hepatitis B vaccine implemented since 1998 and the 5-component combination vaccine implemented since 2008, has started to be administered as of today. The 6-component combination vaccine includes diphtheria, acellular whooping cough, tetanus, inactivated polio (polio), Haemophilus influenzae type B, and hepatitis B vaccines. With the new application, the previously separate injections for the 5-component combination vaccine and hepatitis B vaccine will now be administered with a single injection. Thus, the number of injections will be reduced, and the scope of protection for children will be expanded. The 6-component combination vaccines provided by the Ministry will be administered free of charge at all healthcare institutions and organizations where vaccinations are carried out, especially at Family Health Centers. The follow-up doses for children who started vaccination with the 5-component combination vaccine in the previous period will be completed with the 6-component combination vaccine.
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