June 1, 2021
Iran's health officials said June 1 that a far-reaching coronavirus vaccination program will start in September. The statement was last in a series of unfulfilled promises with varying dates for a much-needed vaccination plan covering all members of the public.
According to the spokesman for Iran's National Coronavirus Task Force, Alireza Raisi, the public phase will kick off once several designated high-risk groups have received their two jabs. The program, he said, will continue until the end of 2021.
Iran's rollout began with frontline medical staff in all hospitals nationwide in February. Months on, the piecemeal program has reached senior citizens at the age of 70, with only 3.7 million Iranians of the entire population of 85 million having received their first jab.