Iran, Cuba to mass produce COVID-19 vaccine amid US sanctions: Official

Iran and Cuba plan to create the capacity for the mass production of doses of a vaccine to contain the coronavirus pandemic amid crippling sanctions imposed on the two countries by the administration of former US President Donald Trump.

Kianoush Jahanpour, spokesman of the Iran Food and Drug Administration (IFDA), said in a post on Twitter on Friday that Iran had nine active cases of the vaccine while Cuba had four and there was one joint project between the two countries.

ایران و کوبا هردو در پی ایجاد ظرفیت تولید میلیون ها دز واکسن #کرونا هستند.

ایران، 9 پرونده فعال واکسن کرونا و کوبا 4 نامزد برای واکسن علیه #COVID19
دارد و یک پروژه بین دو کشور مشترک است.

هر دو کشور دهه هاست تحت تحریم های آمریکا هستند و این تحریم ها در ماه‌های اخیر تشدید شده است https://t.co/1LeRPF95Ww

— Kianush Jahanpur, MD 🇮🇷 (@drjahanpur) January 22, 2021

“Both countries have been under US sanctions for decades and the sanctions have been increased in recent months,” he added.

Iran and Cuba signed an agreement earlier this month to cooperate in the coronavirus vaccine project with the use of a technology that will be transferred to Iran by the Cuban government.

The vaccine, known as ‘Subrana 2,’ is now undergoing the human phase trials by the Cuban Finlay Institute and the Pasteur Institute of Iran.

The medicine, which is the most advanced one among Cuba’s four other coronavirus vaccines, has so far shown no side effects, as the initial stages of its testing have been completed successfully.

In another tweet on Friday, Jahanpour said Cuba plans to launch the Phase-III clinical trials for 150,000 candidates of COVID-19 vaccine while 50,000 candidates would attend this phase in Iran at the same time.

کوبا خود را برای کارآزمايي بالینی فاز lll واکسن #کرونا با شرکت 150،000 نفر آماده میکند، همزمان در ایران نیز 50 هزار نفر در این مرحله شرکت می کنند.

شایان توجه اینکه آزمایش بالینی این واکسن در کودکان و نوجوانان نیز در کوبا آغاز می شود. https://t.co/O37Lpwbtwt

— Kianush Jahanpur, MD 🇮🇷 (@drjahanpur) January 22, 2021

The Iranian health official emphasized that the vaccine’s clinical trials will be conducted in Cuba on children and the young people.

Iran has already launched human trials of its first domestic coronavirus vaccine.

Coviran vaccine Phase I clinical trial: Volunteers get first shots

Iran begins the first phase in the human trial of the homegrown COVID-19 vaccine after completing initial steps and obtaining necessary approvals.

The vaccine, known as COViran Barekat, is being produced under the health protocols and guidelines announced by the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education.

The sanctions have hampered Iran’s access to medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, complicating the process of importing vaccines from overseas.

A second domestic vaccine has also been approved by both IFDA and the Iranian National Committee for Ethics in Biomedical Research.

Iran cancels import of American Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines after Leader bans it

The Iranian Red Crescent Society announced the news in the wake of a national address by Ayatollah Khamenei.

Earlier this month, the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS) canceled the import of 150,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine.

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei banned the purchase of the vaccines produced by the United States and Britain.

Ayatollah Khamenei's remarks in support of health staff fighting COVID-19

Snice the beginning of the new coronavirus pandemic, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei has been actively supporting Iran’s medical staff.

Read more: 

• Iran, Cuba’s COVID-19 vaccine project proceeds to clinical trial phase II

• Joint cooperation with Cuba in coronavirus vaccine production ‘among priorities’: Iran official

• Iran to produce 1.5 million doses of domestic COVID-19 vaccine in 40 days

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