- As the death toll approaches 200,000, delays, lies and contradictory statements about procuring COVID-19 vaccine continue.
- Mahmoud Vaezi, Rouhani’s Chief of Staff: We have taken action to buy vaccines from China, India, and Russia. We should not put all the eggs in one basket and rely only on 3-4 companies that have produced the vaccine. Existing vaccines are expensive and may become cheaper in the future as production grows.
- Kianoush Jahanpour, Health Ministry’s public relations: Vaccine production does not require the World Health Organization’s approval. If we decide to have a production line for export, we can then apply for a license.
- Head of the Medical System Organization: To return to normal life, we have no choice but to pay and purchase COVID-19 vaccine.
- Vice president for Research at the Vaccine Research Center in the University of Medical Science: If all the clinical studies are completed and the components we want are approved, if things go well, God willing, we could use the vaccine in late June or early July next year.
- Alireza Raisi, the spokesperson for the National Coronavirus Combat Taskforce (NCCT): We must be fully prepared, especially in winter, and if we do not observe the COVID-19 related protocols, we will see the next peak in late February and early March.
- Vice president of Gilan University of Medical Sciences: Out of 16 cities of Gilan, five are in orange and the rest are in red state
The People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) announced on December 31, 2020, that the Coronavirus death toll in 478 cities had exceeded 195,000. The number of victims in Tehran is 47,881, Khorasan Razavi 13,265, Isfahan 11,945, Khuzestan 9,885, Lorestan 7,868, Mazandaran 7,412, West Azerbaijan 7,263, Gilan 6,916, Fars 5,965, Kerman 4,267, Kermanshah 4,084, Central Province 4,048, Ardabil 2,392, Qazvin 2,022, and Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad 1,404.
Secretariat of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI)
December 31, 2020
