Tunisia Health Ministry Says 3 Million People Fully Vaccinated

A Tunisian nurse prepares a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine at an inoculation center in Ariana governorate near the capital Tunis on August 8, 2021. (Fethi Belaid, AFP)
A Tunisian nurse prepares a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine at an inoculation center in Ariana governorate near the capital Tunis on August 8, 2021. (Fethi Belaid, AFP)
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Tunisia Health Ministry Says 3 Million People Fully Vaccinated

A Tunisian nurse prepares a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine at an inoculation center in Ariana governorate near the capital Tunis on August 8, 2021. (Fethi Belaid, AFP)
A Tunisian nurse prepares a dose of a Covid-19 vaccine at an inoculation center in Ariana governorate near the capital Tunis on August 8, 2021. (Fethi Belaid, AFP)

The Tunisian Health Ministry confirmed that it succeeded to fully vaccinate around 3 million people since it kicked off a national inoculation campaign on March 13, 2021.

The number represents half of the 6 million Tunisian residents that the Ministry planned to vaccinate by next October to guarantee herd immunity.

“The number of fully vaccinated people stands at 2,980,682, including 2,277,394 people who received two doses, 320,733 people who got one shot of the single dose Johnson and Johnson vaccine and 382,555 people who were infected and therefore needed only one jab,” the Health Ministry said last Sunday.

It said a total of 6,789,808 jabs have been administered so far, including 4,512,414 first shots and 2,277,394 boosters.

Meanwhile, the Health Ministry called on all residents who did not yet receive the vaccine to visit the nearest inoculation center and take their dose.

This came after 66,756 people missed their vaccine appointment last Sunday.

The Ministry revealed that only 32,820 people received their shots out of 99,576 resident that received text messages to attend their jab appointments on September 12.

Around 6 million people are registered on Evax.tn platform up to September 11 to book COVID-19 vaccination appointments.

In the same context, a member of the scientific committee to confront the coronavirus in Tunisia, Al-Hashemi Al-Wazir, said that the committee plans to administer a third dose of the vaccine for the most vulnerable.

Meanwhile, the African nation registered 12 COVID-19 fatalities on September 11, taking the death count to 24,244, the Ministry said.

Also, 780 infections were reported from 7,190 tests (10.85 percent positivity rate), pushing the caseload to 685,799 while recoveries rose by 4,824, reaching 666,431.



Türkiye Urges US to End Support for Kurdish Fighters in Syria

Members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) deployed in the streets of Qamishli, in Al-Hasakah province, northeastern Syria (AFP)
Members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) deployed in the streets of Qamishli, in Al-Hasakah province, northeastern Syria (AFP)
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Türkiye Urges US to End Support for Kurdish Fighters in Syria

Members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) deployed in the streets of Qamishli, in Al-Hasakah province, northeastern Syria (AFP)
Members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) deployed in the streets of Qamishli, in Al-Hasakah province, northeastern Syria (AFP)

Türkiye has reiterated its demand that the United States abandon its support for the Kurdish-led People’s Protection Units (YPG), which form the backbone of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan urged the US to reassess its alliances, particularly in the fight against ISIS in Syria. He argued that Washington should not feel compelled to support the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) and its Syrian affiliate, the YPG, which Ankara considers a national security threat.

Fidan criticized the US policy of relying on the SDF to guard ISIS detainees, describing it as a “toxic issue” in US-Türkiye relations. He also warned that the YPG/SDF’s attempts to establish an autonomous region in northeastern Syria would make reconciliation with the Syrian government impossible.

While Türkiye insists on halting US support for the YPG, White House National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes acknowledged a recent call by jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan to disband the group and lay down arms, describing it as a significant development.

He expressed hope that this move would reassure Türkiye about US partners in northeastern Syria—the YPG/SDF—in the fight against ISIS. Hughes’ remarks, however, reaffirm Washington’s continued support for the Kurdish fighters, despite Türkiye’s objections and Ankara’s willingness to assist the Syrian government in taking over the responsibility of securing ISIS prison camps.

Meanwhile, Turkish forces and Ankara-backed Syrian factions have been engaged in clashes with the SDF in eastern Aleppo for the third consecutive month, particularly around Tishrin Dam and Qarah Qozak Bridge. SDF-affiliated media reported on Friday that the group had shot down four Turkish drones in the area amid escalating tensions.

In response, Turkish artillery bombarded villages in western Ayn al-Arab (Kobani) on Friday.