Turkey starts administering COVID-19 vaccines to teachers

Turkey started administering COVID-19 vaccines to teachers Wednesday as the country prepares for a gradual re-opening of schools.

Education Minister Ziya Selcuk said 1.25 million teachers and other school staff members were now being prioritised for vaccines along with health care workers and people above the age of 65.

Schools in rural areas resumed in-person education on February 15.

Schools in other parts of the country are set to re-open on March 1, with many students attending classes twice a week only.

Students preparing for high school and university entrance exams are scheduled to attend classes full-time.

More than 7 million people in Turkey have so far received shots of the vaccine developed by China's Sinovac company.

The country has reported more than 2.6 million confirmed coronavirus cases and some 28,000 deaths.

(Image credit: AP)