Baghdad, KRG appeal to citizens to get vaccinated amid weak turnout

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region — Health authorities in both Iraq and the Kurdistan Region have urged citizens to register for a COVID-19 vaccine as the number of cases continues to climb.

Hassan Khalati, a member of the Iraqi parliament’s health committee, told Rudaw on Friday that plenty of vaccine doses are available, but that turnout for vaccinations is “weak.”

On Thursday, the Iraqi health ministry called on citizens to receive the vaccine before starting a Facebook campaign, sharing videos of health professionals confirming that the vaccines are safe and effective.

"We call on all media channels, governmental public and private institutions, and NGOs to make all efforts to urge citizens to adhere to preventive measures and encourage them to receive vaccines in accredited health centers and hospitals,” it said. 

According to the health ministry, 133,047 people have been vaccinated so far. The country saw its highest ever number of cases recorded on Wednesday, with 8,331 cases recorded in 24 hours. 

Iraq will receive another batch of 250,000 AstraZeneca doses at the end of this month, Khalati said, with 200,000 doses of the Chinese-made Sinopharm vaccine to arrive next week.

According to a Friday statement from the Kurdistan Region’s health ministry, only 32 percent of vaccine doses have been used, with the ministry calling on people to register online to receive the vaccine.

The Kurdistan Region has so far received 13 percent of Iraq’s 16 million vaccine doses, Aram Rostam, the head of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) committee to buy vaccines, told Rudaw Radio on Friday. 

Rostam said those interested in being vaccinated can simply head to a designated health centre, given the lack of demand for vaccinations. 

“Anyone who registers can immediately visit the specified health centre to be vaccinated, there are plenty of vaccines but people aren’t taking them.”

The Region has received 43,800 AstraZeneca doses and 5,000 Sinopharm doses, according to Rostam, adding that the Pfizer vaccine should arrive next week. 

The KRG has signed a deal with Sinopharm for 100,000 additional doses, he added. 

Iraq’s Ministry of Health on Friday called for a ban on travel for people who have not been vaccinated against the coronavirus, and to shut down public spaces if employees have not been inoculated.