“Following such a considerable vaccination campaign, what can we do if a parent says, ‘I will not get the swine flu shot and neither will my children’? We cannot force anyone,” Akdağ said. Responding to a question on how he can end confusion among the public about swine flu, Akdağ said the issue has been discussed enough in Turkey.Akdağ said the role of the Internet is making people think in various ways, adding that the confusion is not confined only to Turkey but can be seen throughout the world. He said that following a joint decision by Ministry of Health experts, the ministry decided to vaccinate people in at-risk groups, adding that the vaccine is very safe. “However, as with every vaccination, this one also has its side effects. Comparing side effects and symptoms of swine flu, side effects are preferable to actual symptoms,” Akdağ noted.
Saying that more than 300,000 people have received the shot so far, Akdağ said the death toll as a result of swine flu had reached 80 as of Wednesday. “The public only knows this number. However, many people have been hospitalized and some are in intensive care. There are people who have swine flu and are surviving thanks to respirators. Swine flu does not only result in death or recovery. Many diseases are associated with swine flu even if someone does recover. We cannot force anyone to get vaccinated. We respect the people’s choices,” Akdağ said.
The health minister was also asked about Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s remarks on swine flu and said he does not think the prime minister caused confusion by his speech. Noting that the prime minister’s comment on the swine flu vaccination campaign is absolutely fine, Akdağ said: “The prime minister said he is not in an at-risk group and will thus not receive a swine flu vaccination. He said the government is providing vaccinations for its people free of charge and is not forcing anyone to get them.”
The health minister believes constantly discussing swine flu is “politically motivated.”
