Turkey could be back to normal within three months: BioNTech CEO

Turkey could return to the pre-pandemic lifestyle as soon as three months if the public complies with vaccination efforts, BioNTech co-founder Prof. Uğur Şahin said on July 4. The public's vaccination allows for the restriction of infections and the reduction of hospitalizations, Şahin noted.

Tuesday July 06 2021 03:09 pm

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BioNTech co-founder Prof. Uğur Şahin said that Turkey could be back to the pre-pandemic "normal" as soon as three months if the public cooperates with vaccination efforts, the Demirören News Agency (DHA) reported on July 4.

"It's crucial that everyone is vaccinated. This will probably happen within three to four months in Turkey, allowing us to go on with our lives," Şahin said, talking as the keynote speaker at the Sabancı University graduation ceremony.

The pandemic showed the world what a difference science and research can make, Şahin said, adding that it was his and co-founder Dr. Özlem Türeci's decades-long work that allowed them to develop the COVID-19 vaccine.

"We should be optimistic about the future, invest in science, education and science, and remain open to collaborations," Şahin said.

The Turkish immigrant scientists are currently working on developing treatments for cancer patients, Şahin noted, adding that the technology they're working on could also be adapted for different vaccinations.

The guiding principle of the BioNTech co-founders in their work on the COVID-19 vaccine were courage, humility and persistency, Türeci said.