In April 2022, a scoping mission to the Islamic Republic of Iran was led by the WHO Local production and Assistance (LPA) Unit, under the Regulation and Prequalification Department (RPQ), for a preliminary assessment of the ecosystem for sustainable quality LP of COVID-19 vaccines. The mission was conducted by the WHO Local production (LP) Mission Team comprised of the LPA Unit, WHO Country Office Iran and WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (WHO/EMRO). The request for WHO support was raised by the Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) of the Islamic Republic of Iran through the WHO Country Office of Iran (CO/IRA) and WHO/EMRO.
The WHO LP mission team underwent an ecosystem assessment which included the assessment of local vaccine manufacturers’ level of compliance with WHO and international current good manufacturing practices (cGMP), chemistry, manufacturing and controls (CMC), and other quality standards. WHO LP mission team held a round of discussions with Government Officials of Islamic Republic of Iran, MOHME and FDA, to discern the vaccine ecosystem.
At the end of the mission, the preliminary findings, and suggestions on the path forward for the Islamic Republic of Iran and local vaccine manufacturers were presented to the Government Officials. The Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran appreciated the mission and accepted the results through initiatives and technology transfer at manufacturers’ level. WHO/LPA is engaged to a continuous support to Member States, beyond the feasibility assessment and situational analyses, with the development of strategies, policies and tools, by providing capacity building and technical assistance, including for WHO Prequalification (PQ) and Emergency Use Listing (EUL), facilitation of technology transfer, and fostering partnerships and collaborations.
WHO Local Production Mission Team in the Islamic Republic of Iran
Dr Jicui Dong, Unit Head of the WHO Local Production & Assistance Unit, in fruitful discussions with a manufacturer during the site visit
WHO Local Production Mission Team in WHO Country Office Iran
For more information, please contact the Local Production & Assistance Unit (LPA) at: localproduction@who.int