In a broadcast address, President Hassan Rouhani signaled the start of the campaign. The health minister’s son was among those who received the first shots.
Russia’s Sputnik V is the first foreign-made vaccine to arrive in Iran. The Islamic republic is also working to develop its own vaccines.
Intensive care workers, followed by senior citizens and people with chronic health conditions, will be the first in line to receive the vaccine.
Iran Wants to Produce COVID-19 Vaccine With Russia
Iran also considers a possibility to produce a coronavirus vaccine jointly with Russia for export to the Persian Gulf countries, Reza Shanehsaz, Iran's deputy health minister and the head of the national food and drug administration, told Sputnik on Tuesday.
Iran prioritizes vaccination of its citizens but is ready to consider vaccine export later, the health official noted.
"Capacities of Iranian companies can help boost and expand production capacities for the Russian vaccine. Taking into consideration Iran's strategic geographic position, it can meet the needs of other countries in cooperation with the Russian companies: both Persian Gulf nations, with which we have friendly relations, and other countries of the eastern region. This partnership will be beneficial for all the parties engaged," Shanehsaz said.
RDIF on Sputnik V Vaccine Production: Many Countries Are Interested
Many countries are interested in producing Russia's Sputnik V vaccine against COVID-19, and the list of international platforms is constantly growing longer, the head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) told Sputnik on Tuesday, commenting on potential vaccine production in Iran.
"Many countries are showing great interest in the Sputnik V vaccine production, and RDIF is constantly extending the list of international platforms for the Russian vaccine production," RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev said.
