TEHRAN -- Iran has so far produced more than 16 million doses of the homegrown Barakat vaccine against COVID-19, an official said Sunday.
Hassan Jalili, director of the project to develop COVIran Barakat vaccine at the Headquarters for Executing the Order of the Imam, said 7.5 million doses of the vaccine have been delivered to the Health Ministry.
He said the ministry will soon receive some 9 million more doses after the completion of quality control phases.
He said phases one and two of the Shafa Farmed plant are currently producing the vaccines round-the-clock.
According to Jalili, studies carried out by the Health Ministry show that among the vaccines used in Iran’s vaccination program, COVIran Barakat is one of the most effective with the least side effects.
Efforts for registration of COVIran Barakat at the World Health Organization (WHO) are underway, he added.
Iran granted authorization for emergency use of the COVIran Barakat vaccine in June.