Iran has approved its first domestically developed COVID-19 vaccine, The Associated Press reported on Monday. Iranian health minister Saeed Namaki said on state TV, according to the AP report, that permission to use the COVIran Bareket vaccine was obtained on Sunday. The COVIran Bareket is made by pharmaceutical company Shifafarmed. It was created based on a deactivated virus, according to the AP, and the first study of its safety and effectiveness was conducted in December. Namaki said the country is working on another vaccine that would be jointly produced with Cuba.

Source: The North Africa Journal June 14, 2021 20:53 UTC