Seasonal flu vaccine will be imported this year from Russia, and Iran has signed an agreement in this regard.
The Russian production lines as well as raw materials have been inspected and approved by Iran’s Health Ministry, Hesamedin Madani, head of Medical Procurement Organization of the Iranian Red Crescent Society, was quoted as saying by Mehr News Agency.
“The Ministry of Health gave the green light to import Russian seasonal flu vaccines,” he said.
The agreement seeks to break western monopoly of medical imports. “Our agreement with Russia does not, however, end imports from the UK and France; it is to break western monopoly and have accessibility to high quality vaccines at reasonable prices,” he added. Timely supply of medicines is crucial to patients. Madani cited long delivery time, lengthy processes of money transactions due to the western sanctions (imposed on Iran’s nuclear program) as well as costly western medicines, as the main obstacles to dealing with the West.
