Corona in Iran; Health Official Expresses Concern Over ‘Vaccine Gate’ and Discrimination in Vaccine Distribution

Iran’s Ministry of Health statistics show that from the 9th to the 10th of Ordibehesht, 20,732 new coronavirus patients were identified and 391 patients lost their lives. Accordingly, the total number of COVID-19 deaths reached 72,875 people.

Many doubt the accuracy of official statistics, and even the Islamic Consultative Assembly Research Center announced that the actual figures for infection and death are several times higher than official statistics.

• Iran’s Food and Drug Organization Spokesman Expresses Concern Over ‘Vaccine Gate’

Statements by Kianoush Jahanpour, spokesman for Iran’s Food and Drug Organization, on the social network ‘Clubhouse’ regarding vaccine imports by the private sector became news in cyberspace and Iranian domestic media.

Mr. Jahanpour, referring to the fact that some want to import vaccines at twelve times the price, said: “This price difference, at best, in its name might be called commission. Logic dictates that a vaccine worth approximately 4 or 5 dollars today, if invoiced at 50 dollars, is problematic.”

The spokesman for Iran’s Food and Drug Organization said that 35 companies have been granted licenses to import vaccines.

• Health Official Comments on Purchase of American Vaccine Concurrent with Arrival of ‘Largest Import Shipment’ from China

The Iranian Red Crescent Society announced that one million doses of vaccine have been imported from China and said this was the “largest import shipment” to date.

Meanwhile, Alireza Raisi, spokesman for the National Coronavirus Combat Headquarters, regarding the import of British and American-made vaccines by the private sector, said: “The private sector can purchase the American-made Moderna vaccine from Germany or the Netherlands, and only vaccines manufactured in America and England are prohibited from import.”

On the 19th of December, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced in a televised speech that there is “no trust and confidence” in British and American-made vaccines and banned their entry. Many believe this decision resulted in Iran falling behind in receiving vaccines from other countries.

According to the New York Times table, as of Monday, Iran has vaccinated only one percent of its population so far. This is while Israel has vaccinated 60 percent, the United States 44 percent, and Turkey 17 percent of their populations.

A report by Iran’s Deputy Customs Commissioner shows that 720,000 doses of vaccine from Russia, 1,650,000 doses from China, 125,000 doses from India, and 700,800 Covax doses from South Korea have been imported into Iran, which totals 3.1 million doses.

• Dismissal of Several Municipal Officials and Discussion of Vaccinating Afghan Sanitation Workers

Hejat Nazari, a member of Tehran’s City Council, criticized the discrimination between Iranian and non-Iranian sanitation workers in the city council session and said: “Apparently, Afghan nationals are unable to use the vaccine due to not having a national ID, and the government must quickly take measures in this regard.”

Mr. Nazari said if legally they cannot be vaccinated, then can they legally be employed.

Misuse of the sanitation workers’ vaccine quota has made headlines in recent days, and Iranian domestic media referred to it as “vaccine embezzlement.”

Pirouz Hanachi, mayor of Tehran, announced in the Tehran City Council session the dismissal of “several culprits” in districts six, nine, and seven of Tehran and said “precise instructions” for vaccine distribution had not been provided. Mr. Hanachi added that a list of individuals who were vaccinated out of turn will be published.

Source: Voice of America