Teams try to persuade skeptics to get vaccinated

Skepticism against the COVID-19 vaccine is increasingly seen everywhere around the world, resulting from the anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, making people reluctant and often fearful to get their vaccinations in a time when the world is in a state of jeopardy.

In a bid to get rid of vaccine skepticism, Turkey has launched a COVID-19 vaccination persuasion initiative within the scope of its vaccination program to encourage people to get vaccinated in time.

The doors of the people who declined invitations to get vaccinated could get knocked by officials in an attempt to convince them.

Vaccine persuasion teams were formed in different provinces across Turkey against the anti-vaccine movement, which has no scientific basis and is fed by nonsense spread on social media.

Daily Milliyet closely followed the vaccination campaign by participating in a one-day duty of a vaccination persuasion team serving under Istanbul's Sultanbeyli District Governor's Office.

The teams, including directors of public institutions, health care workers, mukhtars (headmen), school principals, teachers and imams, visit and give information about the necessity to get inoculated to those who are reluctant to encourage them to get the vaccine jab.

Officials from the team visited 65-year-old Sevgi Karakuş living in the district's Akşemsettin neighborhood to inform her about the COVID-19 vaccine.

Karakuş was unwilling to get the vaccine at first, and on being asked about the reason behind her hesitation or if she was afraid, Karakuş said: "I don't want to be vaccinated. I'm not afraid of the vaccine. I protect myself. I can't find time either."

Officials not giving up their efforts tried to convince and make her aware of the COVID-19...