Iran on Monday tightened travel restrictions for non-vaccinated people by banning them from purchasing airplane, train and bus tickets as part of a larger plan to get 100% of the population immunized against Covid-19.
In the first phase of the plan, dubbed “smart restrictions”, Iran will no longer allow unvaccinated people on airplanes, trains and buses, IRNA reported.
A senior official with the Health Ministry, Mohsen Farhadi, said that the ministry has linked its database on vaccinated individuals to the Civil Aviation Organization as well as the Roads Ministry to prevent the unvaccinated from traveling.
The database can determine whether a person who intends to buy travel tickets has been vaccinated or if they have recently tested positive for Covid-19.
Farhadi noted, “Soon, only vaccinated people will be allowed in government offices, swimming pools, cinemas and chain stores.”
Over 107 million vaccine doses have been administered for Iran’s population of 85 million people. So far, 58.1 million have been given a first dose and 48.3 million have been fully vaccinated.
Deputy Health Minister Kamal Heydari said in televised remarks on Sunday night that starting Monday, only those who show proof of vaccination can enter enclosed public spaces.
“Those who have not received a vaccination card need to give a PCR test before entering public places to determine whether they carry the virus,” he added.
A growing number of countries around the world are imposing curbs on non-vaccinated individuals to encourage inoculation.
To further build immunity, Iran is now giving a third shot, booster shots, to those most vulnerable to the respiratory illness.
Over the past two months, healthcare personnel, those suffering from rare diseases and seniors over the age of 60 received a third dose to develop stronger immunity against the contagion.
Head of the Health Ministry’s Center for Infectious Disease Control, Mohammad Mahdi Gouya, said people over the age of 40 can now get Covid-19 booster shots at vaccination centers.
The Health Ministry has given out 1.39 million booster shots. Over the past 24 hours, 408,000 more vaccine doses were administered.