Find below a letter sent by ICC President Soudeh Ghasemi asking Canada send its extra vaccines to vulnerable Iranians: 

Attention: 

Honourable Minister of Health Patty Hadju

Honourable Minister of International Development Karina Gould

My name is Soudeh Ghasemi, President of the Iranian Canadian Congress, a non-profit, non-religious, and non-partisan organization dedicated to advancing the interests of Canadians of Iranian heritage. 

As has been reported in media, Canada has purchased in advance more vaccines than it needs and is currently considering sharing vaccines with other countries who need them in the future. 

This is a laudable goal and the Iranian Canadian Congress commends the Canadian government for considering it. This letter is to ask the Canadian government to share the excess vaccines that it has with healthcare workers, seniors, and people with underlying health conditions in Iran. 

As you may know, Iran, in particular, is suffering greatly from the coronavirus pandemic due to the fact that it is currently subjected to an inhumane sanctions regime by the Trump administration that has made it difficult to purchase medicines, ventilators, and other medical equipment needed to control the pandemic. As such, Iran has one of the highest death tolls per capita in the world. 

Canada must step in and help Iranians by giving our excess vaccines to the Iranians most at risk of this deadly disease. Indeed, a petition initiated by a group of health professionals* signed by nearly 15,000 individuals is making this exact request. 

As such, we ask you to help Iranians in this time of need by sending our excess vaccines to Iran’s most vulnerable. Iranians are suffering, and Canada can help. 

Sincerely, 

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* The petition was initiated by:
Syda Alavi ,DDs, MSc - Elli Baran, MD - Melika Meshkat, Pharm.D. - Reza Moradi, MD - Rose Sanei

Petition link: https://www.change.org/p/justin-trudeau-covid-19-vaccine-for-healthcare-workers-and-persons-at-highest-risk-from-covid-19-in-iran