Payam Tabarsi, an infectious disease specialist, referring to the rise in influenza cases in Iran, said that the number of critically ill and hospitalized patients has increased and that the stock of influenza vaccines has also been depleted.
On Thursday, December 10, Tabarsi told the state-run Mehr News Agency that the most effective way to prevent influenza is “observing hygiene protocols” and that people at risk should avoid crowded places.
He added, “If people can obtain the vaccine, it is not too late to get vaccinated, and there is still time until March 2026. However, given the current vaccine shortage, the main emphasis is on hygiene and reducing exposure to the virus.”
Homayoun Sameh Najafabadi, a member of the Health Commission of the Iranian regime’s parliament, said on December 10 that the high cost of the influenza vaccine and the lack of insurance coverage prevented many people from accessing it, leading to “this situation.”
He added, “The fatal risk of influenza has become higher than that of COVID-19. In other words, the lethality of influenza is very high.”
In recent weeks, coinciding with the peak of severe influenza and rising air pollution in major cities, citizens have been facing a new wave of respiratory infections.
Hossein Kermanpour, head of public relations for Iran’s regime Ministry of Health, announced on December 10 that 101 people have died due to the new wave of influenza in the country, “most of whom had not been vaccinated.”
At the same time, Ghobad Moradi, head of the Communicable Diseases Management Center at Iran’s regime Ministry of Health, said that the share of circulating respiratory infections has “reached about 16 to 17%,” a figure he says is “above the 10% global warning threshold,” indicating that the country has entered an influenza peak and many provinces have exceeded the alert level.
Widespread influenza wave in the country
Ahmad Mehri, an epidemiologist and public health expert, announced on December 11: “The country is facing a widespread influenza wave, with more than 30% of respiratory samples testing positive, three to four times the warning threshold defined by the surveillance system, and almost all provinces are affected by this wave.”
He warned, “The main concern in this wave is the consequences of critical illness and the risk of death. Children, the elderly, pregnant women, patients with diabetes or hypertension, cancer patients, and those taking immunosuppressive drugs are at higher risk than others.”
Air Pollution In Khuzestan Caused More Than 1,600 Deaths In Past Year
Meanwhile, the simultaneous severe air pollution alongside the influenza peak has doubled citizens’ concerns.
Minoo Mohraz, an infectious disease specialist, said on December 11 that air pollution alone does not cause influenza but can exacerbate the symptoms of respiratory illnesses.
She added, “Patients with allergies, asthma, and respiratory problems are more vulnerable under these conditions, and the circulation of the influenza virus can be more dangerous at such times.”
On December 8, Mohraz also told the state-run newspaper Shargh: “The current influenza wave is more severe than previous waves, and with the increase in cases, the likelihood of mortality and lethality also exists.”
Drug shortages and difficult days ahead
Mohammad Abdehzadeh, head of the Health Economy Commission of Tehran Chamber of Commerce, told the state-run ILNA news agency on December 11: “The drug shortage in the country is not a one-day or two-day problem, nor is it just this year or last year; it has existed for various reasons, and its roots are clear.”
He attributed the drug shortage to three factors: “lack of foreign currency resources,” “shortage of rials,” and “untimely drug pricing,” emphasizing, “These three reasons have always caused chronic drug shortages in past years.”
Abdehzadeh said pharmaceutical companies face difficulties in obtaining foreign currency and collecting their rial claims, and if these problems are not resolved, the last three months of the year will be “difficult days” for the country’s drug market.
He continued: “Currently, the total claims of pharmaceutical companies from both government and private companies and pharmacies have reached over 1.5 quadrillion rials (approximately 1.25 billion dollars). This means that nearly half of the pharmaceutical market’s turnover consists of claims that producers have not been able to collect in rials.”
Abdehzadeh also announced on December 10 that the severe drug shortage will continue in the last quarter of the year (from January to March 2026), and producers and importers are queuing daily to address issues with drug imports at the Central Bank and Ministry of Health.
While the widespread influenza wave affects children, the elderly, and high-risk groups, repeated warnings and reports about drug shortages and high prices have cast a heavy shadow over patients’ lives and the healthcare system.
