The Russian News
Published by Angelo Locsin
Iran to start Covid-19 inoculations using Russia's Sputnik V vaccine
Tehran - Iran will start its first coronavirus vaccinations this week using Russia's Sputnik V vaccine to inoculate health workers at the epicenter of Middle-East's worst outbreak.
The shots will be given to medical workers tending those who have worse cases in intensive care units starting February 9. Iran's Health Minister Saeed Namaki said on Sunday, without giving extensive details, according to state-run Islamic Republic News Agency.
About 1.3 million who are mostly vulnerable will be inoculated with first dose starting March 20. According on a statement posted on the government official website, Dolat.ir. Ali Raisi, Spokesperson of the government coronavirus task force, the vaccines will be given free of charge.
As of today, Iran has a total of 1,459,370 of covid-19 cases with fatalities of 58,412 making it as the 16th highest in the world when it comes to registered cases. Iran officials blamed the U.S. sanctions for impeding their ability to contain the corona virus pandemic and avoid economic collapse.
Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's decision to ban both British and US made covid-19 shots such as Pfeizer and Moderna as untrustworthy, might complicate attempts to stabilize the pandemic and start recovery, though Iran has secured some 4.2 million doses of U.K.-based AstraZenica Oxford University shot through the global vaccine procurement system backed by the World Health Organization.
Iran's Ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, said Iran and Russia would soon finalize an agreement for Iran to produce Sputnik V vaccine by April, according to the state TV.
Source: Bloomberg
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