Official: Iran to Be Among Top 5 Producers of Pneumococcal Vaccines Soon

Mustafa Qaneyee, the secretary of Health Knowledge-Based Economy Development Taskforce said, “Currently, the pneumococcal vaccine for children is in its final phases. This vaccine should be prepared annually for 1.5 million babies; three doses for each baby.”

He said that when the pneumococcal vaccine is manufactured domestically, it will save the country huge amounts of money by meeting domestic needs and preventing its imports.

“Each dose of the pneumococcal vaccine is available in the market for about 600,000 tomans," Qanei also said.

“The technical know-how of making the vaccine is very complicated which only exists in four countries worldwide," he said, adding that Iran is the fifth country that has acquired this technology.

The health official noted that the domestically developed vaccine for preventing diarrhea in children is also in its final phase.

“The third vaccine is the quadrivalent HPV vaccine, which is a more reasonably priced compared to the foreign counterparts. Currently, imported 2-valent HPV vaccine is available in the market, and the Vice-Presidency for Science and Technology with the help of scientists is planning to produce a 4-valent vaccine, which can compete with the foreign counterparts,” Qanei said.

"During the Covid-19 pandemic, we had the experience of making and supplying the vaccine needed in the country. During that period, we achieved the infrastructure and technologies needed for vaccine production," he went on to say. 

The official further said that Iranian-made insulin will come to the market next year.

“Currently, we pay more than $150 million annually for insulin imports, ... Meanwhile, at the time of insulin shortages inside the country, we have faced risks, that’s why we have planned to domestically manufacture insulin next year.”

4155/i