Tehran- Iran’s presidential envoy for the national vaccine ecosystem has called for the establishment of a unified, end-to-end governance framework for the country’s vaccine sector, positioning the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute as a central pillar of the system.

 

Seyed Reza Bani-Hashemi, the president’s special representative for the vaccine ecosystem and executive director of the National Vaccine Technology Tower project, made the remarks at a specialized session hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with senior officials and experts from the Razi Institute and representatives of the ministry’s Office of International Economic Cooperation.

 

The meeting formed part of broader government efforts to reinforce national biotechnology infrastructure. The envoy described vaccines as a strategic asset and pointed to institutional fragmentation during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the absence of a single coordinating authority contributed to reliance on foreign procurement, including the import of approximately 150 million vaccine doses from China.

 

Citing Iran’s century-long track record in vaccine production, the Razi Institute’s research and development director cautioned that insufficient policy focus has allowed regional actors to capitalize on Iran’s scientific capabilities and accumulated expertise.

 

Outlining the administration’s policy direction, Bani-Hashemi emphasized implementation of a national vaccine ecosystem model based on unified stewardship across the full value chain, from research and development through manufacturing, regulation, and distribution. Under this framework, public institutions and private-sector stakeholders, including the Razi Institute, would operate within an integrated management architecture.

 

He added that emerging regional health alliances heighten the need for Iran to consolidate its position as a leading regional actor, stressing that such standing depends on aligning the domestic ecosystem with international standards.

 

Bani-Hashemi also highlighted ongoing cooperation with China on the Vaccine Technology Tower initiative and called for the designation of a formal liaison from the Razi Institute to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to streamline international engagement and build specialized collaboration networks.