Coronavirus in Iran; Health official expresses concern about "Vaccine Gate" and discrimination in vaccine distribution

Statistics from the Iranian Ministry of Health show that from May 23 to 25, 20,732 new cases of COVID-19 were identified and 391 patients died, bringing the total number of COVID-19 deaths to 72,875.

Many are skeptical about the accuracy of official statistics, and even the Research Center of the Islamic Consultative Assembly announced that the actual number of infections and deaths is many times higher than the official figures.

• Spokesperson for the Food and Drug Administration of Iran expresses concern about "Vaccine Gate"

The statements of Kianoush Jahanpour, spokesman for the Food and Drug Administration of Iran, on the social network "Clubhouse" regarding the import of vaccines by the private sector made headlines in cyberspace and media inside Iran.

Mr. Jahanpour, referring to some people who want to import the vaccine at twelve times the price, said: "This price difference may be called, in its most elegant form, a commission. Logic dictates that a vaccine that is worth about $4 or $5 today, if invoiced at $50, is problematic."

A spokesman for the Iranian Food and Drug Administration said that 35 companies have been granted licenses to import vaccines.

• Health official comments on US vaccine purchase as 'largest ever import' arrives from China

The Iranian Red Crescent Society announced that one million doses of the vaccine had arrived in Iran from China, saying this was the "largest imported shipment" to date.

At the same time, Alireza Raisi, spokesman for the National Headquarters for Combating Corona, said regarding the import of vaccines made in the UK and the US by the private sector: "The private sector can purchase the American Moderna vaccine from Germany or the Netherlands, and only the import of vaccines produced in the US and the UK is prohibited."

On January 9, the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran announced in a televised speech that there was “no trust or confidence” in vaccines made in the United Kingdom and the United States and banned their import. Many believe that this decision has led to Iran falling behind in receiving vaccines from other countries.

According to a New York Times chart, as of Monday, Iran had vaccinated only 1 percent of its population, while Israel had vaccinated 60 percent, the United States 44 percent, and Turkey 17 percent.

The report of the Technical Deputy of Iranian Customs shows that 720,000 doses of vaccine have been imported into Iran from Russia, 1.65 million doses from China, 125,000 doses from India, and 700,800 doses from South Korea, totaling 3.1 million doses.

• Dismissal of several municipal officials and discussion about vaccination of Afghan cleaners

Hojjat Nazari, a member of the Tehran City Council, criticized the discrimination between Iranian and non-Iranian vaccinators at a city council meeting and said, "Apparently, Afghan citizens are unable to use the vaccine due to lack of a national ID, and the government needs to take measures in this regard as soon as possible."

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

The abuse of Pakbanan vaccine quotas has made headlines in recent days, and Iranian domestic media referred to it as "vaccine hoarding."

Tehran Mayor Pirouz Hanachi announced at a Tehran City Council meeting that “several offenders” in Tehran’s districts six, nine, and seven had been dismissed, saying that “precise instructions” for vaccine distribution had not been provided. Mr. Hanachi added that a list of people who were vaccinated outside of the waiting list would be published.

Source: Voice of America