This article is from the source 'rtcom' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.rt.com/news/515959-iran-vaccine-covid19-astrazeneca-approved/

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Iran grants emergency use of 3 foreign-made Covid jabs, including AstraZeneca shot supposedly banned by Supreme Leader Iran grants emergency use of 3 foreign-made Covid jabs, including AstraZeneca shot supposedly banned by Supreme Leader
(25 days later)
The Iran Food and Drug Administration (IFDA) has approved three foreign-made Covid-19 vaccines for use including AstraZeneca’s, despite Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei previously banning British jabs.The Iran Food and Drug Administration (IFDA) has approved three foreign-made Covid-19 vaccines for use including AstraZeneca’s, despite Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei previously banning British jabs.
Speaking on Wednesday evening, IFDA spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour announced that emergency use permits had been granted for India’s COVAXIN shot, produced by Bharat Biotech, as well as two versions of the AstraZeneca vaccine – one manufactured by Russia’s R-Pharm and the other by South Korea’s SKBio Company.Speaking on Wednesday evening, IFDA spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour announced that emergency use permits had been granted for India’s COVAXIN shot, produced by Bharat Biotech, as well as two versions of the AstraZeneca vaccine – one manufactured by Russia’s R-Pharm and the other by South Korea’s SKBio Company.
The only Covid-19 vaccine previously approved in Iran was Russia’s Sputnik V, after the two nations signed a deal for two million jabs to be delivered.The only Covid-19 vaccine previously approved in Iran was Russia’s Sputnik V, after the two nations signed a deal for two million jabs to be delivered.
Tehran announced in early February that British-Swedish pharma firm AstraZeneca would start delivering 4.2 million doses of its vaccine that same month through the global COVAX initiative. Tehran announced in early February that British-Swedish pharma firm AstraZeneca would start delivering 4.2 million doses of its vaccine that same month through the global COVAX initiative. 
The news came despite British and American vaccines being hit with a blanket ban by Khamenei in January.  The news came despite British and American vaccines being hit with a blanket ban by Khamenei in January.  
“Imports of US and British vaccines into the country are forbidden... They’re completely untrustworthy. It’s not unlikely they would want to contaminate other nations,” Khamenei stated, adding that a country that produces a good vaccine wouldn’t be experiencing severe Covid-19 outbreaks like the ones seen in the two countries.“Imports of US and British vaccines into the country are forbidden... They’re completely untrustworthy. It’s not unlikely they would want to contaminate other nations,” Khamenei stated, adding that a country that produces a good vaccine wouldn’t be experiencing severe Covid-19 outbreaks like the ones seen in the two countries.
That the AstraZeneca shots being supplied to Iran are produced by Russian and South Korean firms rather than in the US or UK may be part of a workaround to the Supreme Leader’s edict. That the AstraZeneca shots being supplied to Iran are produced by Russian and South Korean firms rather than in the US or UK may be part of a workaround to the Supreme Leader’s edict. 
Iran is also continuing to develop an indigenous vaccine as the nation looks to achieve self-sufficiency in Covid-19 jab production. Tehran hopes to manufacture 14 million doses of Iranian-developed vaccines in May and June.  Iran is also continuing to develop an indigenous vaccine as the nation looks to achieve self-sufficiency in Covid-19 jab production. Tehran hopes to manufacture 14 million doses of Iranian-developed vaccines in May and June.  
On Wednesday, Minou Mohraz, a senior official in Iran’s vaccine development team, claimed the jab was particularly efficient at defeating the mutated British strain of Covid-19. “No vaccine in the world has shown such efficiency,” she said.On Wednesday, Minou Mohraz, a senior official in Iran’s vaccine development team, claimed the jab was particularly efficient at defeating the mutated British strain of Covid-19. “No vaccine in the world has shown such efficiency,” she said.
If you like this story, share it with a friend!If you like this story, share it with a friend!
Dear readers and commenters,
We have implemented a new engine for our comment section. We hope the transition goes smoothly for all of you. Unfortunately, the comments made before the change have been lost due to a technical problem. We are working on restoring them, and hoping to see you fill up the comment section with new ones. You should still be able to log in to comment using your social-media profiles, but if you signed up under an RT profile before, you are invited to create a new profile with the new commenting system.
Sorry for the inconvenience, and looking forward to your future comments,
RT Team.