Iranian Users Protest on Twitter; Why Doesn’t the Islamic Republic Purchase Coronavirus Vaccines

As countries around the world intensify their efforts to procure and administer coronavirus vaccines, with some countries already beginning vaccination campaigns, vague and contradictory statements from Islamic Republic officials regarding vaccine procurement have sparked protests among Iranian Twitter users.

In recent days, following the launch of mass vaccination in Britain and the United States, Israel and Saudi Arabia have also begun administering COVID-19 vaccines, while it remains unclear when and how Iranian citizens will obtain access to this vaccine.

Officials at the Islamic Republic’s Ministry of Health initially announced the purchase of vaccines with the help of an Indian trader. About two weeks ago, the Governor of the Central Bank claimed that due to sanctions, it was impossible to purchase vaccines from the COVAX coalition (through the World Health Organization) because of American sanctions and difficulties in money transfers. This is despite America’s repeated statements that drug purchases, food items, and humanitarian goods are not covered by American sanctions.

The Vice-Chairman of the Health Economics Commission of the Tehran Chamber of Commerce also acknowledged that medicines are not subject to American sanctions and over one hundred million dollars monthly are allocated by the Central Bank to importers for importing medicines.

On the other hand, a COVAX consortium spokesperson also told the Washington Post that Iran faces no obstacle to receiving vaccines through this consortium.

The contradictory statements from Islamic Republic officials continued, and on December 16, Health Minister Saeed Namaki announced that COVID-19 vaccine would be supplied to approximately 8.4 million Iranians through the COVAX consortium. He also mentioned purchasing approximately 40 million doses through another channel but did not explain which manufacturer or country would be selling this vaccine.

The vague and contradictory statements from Islamic Republic officials increased concerns and sparked criticism from citizens on social media. Users protested against the incompetence of Islamic Republic officials in providing coronavirus vaccines using the hashtag “Buy_Vaccine.”

One user, using the hashtag Buy_Vaccine, wrote: “The government in Iran rides on the horse of coronavirus trampling over the pain, suffering, and poverty of the people. Because nobody is left with the strength to stand and say, pass over us, we are still alive. From the combination of coronavirus and poverty and people’s inability to protest, I arrive at this combination.”

A number of users using this hashtag have included phrases such as Iranian Lives Matters in their tweets.

Mehdi Hajati, a former member of the Shiraz City Council, also wrote on Twitter using this hashtag that this request is no longer political and security-related. He added: “Report to us how many vaccines and from which country you intend to purchase?!“

In another tweet, he wrote: “If you have signed a contract with companies approved by the World Health Organization, please tell us when the vaccine delivery date is?! If you haven’t signed, please tell us why you haven’t. With all this power, expecting a little accountability is not too much.”

Some users also shared the phrase “Medicine is not sanctioned” using this hashtag.

Some users also pointed out that the Islamic Republic’s vaccine procurement problem is likely due to not joining FATF, the mechanism for combating money laundering and terrorist financing, which has made money transfers for Iran difficult.

U.S. officials have repeatedly confirmed the concealment and contradictory statements of Islamic Republic officials regarding the fight against coronavirus in recent months.

The U.S. State Department, while expressing concern about the severe spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Iran, announced that America is ready to help Iran in this regard.

Source: Voice of America