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Updated July 10th, 2021 at 19:21 IST

Iranians get jabs in Armenia amid vaccine shortages

Armenia's offer of free coronavirus vaccines to any foreign visitor has drawn many people from neighboring Iran and other countries to the ex-Soviet Caucasus nation.

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Armenia's offer of free coronavirus vaccines to any foreign visitor has drawn many people from neighbouring Iran and other countries to the ex-Soviet Caucasus nation.

The Iranians initially visited the Armenian border city of Meghri to get the shots, but the Armenian authorities have decided earlier this week that all foreign nationals should get the shots in the Armenian capital, Yerevan.

"You can see that almost all the tourists here trying to get vaccinated, they are all coming from Tehran, Iran or other cities in Iran," Mohammad Seifpour, a 48-year old Tehran resident said while waiting to receive the shot in Yerevan. "This is just because of the horrible situation we are facing with the officials who are in charge of importing and vaccinating people."

Under the latest official regulations that became effective Friday, foreigners willing to be vaccinated need to spend at least 10 days in Armenia before the shot - a requirement apparently aimed at earning more cash for the economically struggling nation. Foreigners are entitled to receive the shots at mobile vaccination facilities in Yerevan, while the Armenians receive vaccines at clinics.

A doctor in the border city of Meghri who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because he's not authorised to speak to the media said that about 100 Iranians had been vaccinated there over the past few weeks before the Iranians and others were told to come to Yerevan to receive the shots.

Armenia has used AstraZeneca, Russian-designed Sputnik V and the Chinese CoronaVac vaccines.

"Our citizens are our priority, but I repeat again that the pandemic doesn't recognise citizenship and we should take this into consideration. Besides, I would like to mention that we expect similar responses from other countries where Armenian citizens live," said Armenia's Health Minister Anahit Avanesyan at a news conference on Friday.

Armenian authorities haven't said how many foreigners have been vaccinated. Overall, just about 110-thousand people in the country of 3 million have been vaccinated - a slow pace attributed to hesitancy about vaccines. Armenia has registered over 226-thousand infections and 4,540 coronavirus deaths.

"I can't provide exact numbers as we should also consider those foreigners who are residents of Armenia, but there is also a small percentage who come specifically for vaccination," Avanesyan said.

Armenia's Acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, however, said at a government meeting last week that foreigners have accounted for up to half of all vaccinations.

 

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Published July 10th, 2021 at 19:21 IST

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