Corona in Iran; Lack of Coordination in Vaccination Registration and Concerns Over Entry of Indian COVID Variant

Official statistics from Iran’s Ministry of Health show that 462 more patients have died from COVID-19. Accordingly, the total death toll from coronavirus in Iran has reached 70,532 people.

Many doubt the accuracy of official statistics, and even the Islamic Consultative Assembly’s research center announced that the actual figures for infections and deaths are several times higher than official numbers.

To make more precise comparisons between countries in terms of infection and mortality rates, figures are calculated per million people.

For example, data collected by the “Our World in Data” website shows that the daily death rate per million people in Iran is higher than in India and almost close to Italy.

Confusion Over Vaccine Registration Method and Crowding During Coronavirus Crisis

In recent days, news coverage of vaccine registration at comprehensive health centers, reports of improper information dissemination, and the creation of long queues for registration revealed a lack of coordination in the public vaccination program.

The Ministry of Health announced that no vaccine appointments have been registered and asked people to refrain from unnecessary presence and gatherings at health centers.

Jaafar Sadegh Tabrizzi, head of the Ministry of Health’s network management center, said: “Information about receiving the coronavirus vaccine will be provided by sending an SMS in the name of the Ministry of Health to the head of household, and there will be no in-person vaccine registration.”

According to the spokesperson for the National Coronavirus Combat Headquarters, the official coronavirus vaccination system in Iran will be unveiled on Wednesday.

Vaccination in Iran remains slow. According to Ministry of Health statistics, a total of 889,554 vaccine doses have been administered in Iran so far.

Health Minister: “We Hear the Footsteps of the Indian Coronavirus”

Saeid Namaki, Iran’s Minister of Health, while confirming the identification of several cases of a new coronavirus variant first observed in South Africa, warned about the possibility of the Indian virus strain entering the country.

The health deputy of Bushehr University of Medical Sciences told ISNA that 20 Indian nationals had entered Bushehr province, and the test results of five of these individuals were reported as positive and three as “suspected.” Abdolmohammad Khajehzadeh said it is currently unclear whether they are infected with the new variant.

Meanwhile, Kianoush Jahanpour, spokesperson for Iran’s Food and Drug Organization, regarding the possibility of detecting the Indian COVID variant in Iran, said: “Due to cost and shortage, we do not have the capability to test all patients, and we can introduce selective samples from each province for genetic sequencing.”

Flight Ban to India and Pakistan; Concerns Over Repetition of Wuhan Scenario

As the situation in India worsened, many expressed concern about a repeat of the China scenario.

Saeid Namaki, the health minister, said: “Just as the Wuhan virus was able to reach the poles, we also heard the footsteps of South African and Brazilian viruses behind the doors of our borders, and likewise the Indian virus, which constantly threatens our entry through our eastern and southeastern borders.”

The health minister regarding travel restrictions to India and Pakistan said: “I had corresponded to prevent the entry and exit of cases from some neighboring countries, but for whatever reason, the matter was not followed up.”

Finally, the spokesman for Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization announced the suspension of all flights between Iran and India and Pakistan from the early hours of Sunday.

However, in the following days, images of continued sales of indirect flight tickets (via Qatar and the UAE) and news of ticket sales at astronomical prices (up to 130 million tomans) were circulated on the internet and social media.

Source: Voice of America