Iran has imported the first consignment of Russian COVID-19 vaccines from Moscow after the cure’s remarkable rate of efficacy was verified by domestic authorities.
The 7584 Mahan Air Flight loaded the cargo comprising the Sputnik-V vaccines on Thursday and touched down at Tehran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport around four hours later at 15:50 pm. Local time (1220 GMT). The vaccines have been scheduled to be handed over to the Health Ministry.
Iran’s Ambassador to Moscow Kazem Jalali said the shipment was made possible after the two sides signed an agreement on January 29 to enable joint work on the vaccine’s production. He reminded that the agreement had been preceded by persevering efforts on the part of the Embassy and talks between Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
The Islamic Republic is to receive two more such cargos in February. One is to reach the country by February 18 and the next one would arrive by February 28, the envoy said.
According to health officials, the first stage of the imports is to see arrival of 500,000 doses of the vaccine in the country.
Jalali said following the third shipment, more cargoes are to be sent over at respectively two-week- and one-month-long intervals.
Sputnik-V has proven efficient in curing the potentially fatal respiratory disease in 91.6 percent of the cases.