Iran to Import 3.1 Million Doses of AstraZeneca Vaccine Produced in Korea

[Image source=Reuters Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] The Iranian government announced plans to import 3.1 million doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine produced in Korea within this year.

On the 8th (local time), Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported that the Iranian Ministry of Health plans to import 3.1 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine produced in Korea this year through the international vaccine initiative 'Covax facility.' Previously, last month, the Iranian Ministry of Health announced plans to bring in 4.2 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine within the year via the Covax facility. If the Iranian government's goal is met, most of the vaccines procured through the Covax facility are expected to be those produced in Korea.

The Iranian Ministry of Health explained that it has verified the safety of the AstraZeneca vaccine and approved the emergency use of the AstraZeneca vaccine produced in Korea on the 18th of last month. AstraZeneca has outsourced part of the production of the COVID-19 vaccine, jointly developed with Oxford University, to the Korean company SK Bioscience.

Earlier, the Iranian Ministry of Health also approved the use of the Russian Sputnik V vaccine and agreed to import 2 million doses. Vaccinations with the Sputnik V vaccine began on the 9th of last month. The Iranian Ministry of Health is reported to plan to vaccinate approximately 1.3 million people by the end of this month.