Cuba aspires to be the first country to vaccinate its entire population with its own vaccine
More than one in five Cubans received at least one dose of one of the anti-Covid-19 vaccines developed on the island, Cuban scientists announced Thursday, before the vaccines are expected to be granted emergency use authorizations in the coming weeks.
"Currently, about 22 percent of the population has received at least the first dose," said Eduardo Martinez, head of the state drug group Biocopapharma. He spoke of a "significant decline in the infection rate" of the disease in areas where a large part of their population had been vaccinated.
The country, which is facing a rise in the number of HIV infections, began in May to vaccinate the population in the areas most affected by the epidemic.
Cuba is developing 5 vaccines, including two in the last phase of clinical trials, "Abdullah" and "Superana 2".
Martinez indicated that in the case of Abdullah’s vaccine, “the file was submitted to the National Medicines Agency for emergency use permission,” expressing his hope to receive a positive response “in the coming days or weeks.”
And the “Biocopapharma” group announced on Monday that “Abdullah” showed that it was effective against Covid-19 by 92.28 percent, after receiving 3 doses of it, two days after the “Finlay” Institute for Vaccines announced that the “Supirana 2” vaccine it was developing secured an efficacy of 62 % After taking the second of 3 doses a person should receive to be fully immunized against COVID-19.
Regarding the “Superana 2” vaccine, the director of the Finlay Institute, Vicente Perez, said, “We estimate that the effectiveness results (after 3 doses) will range between 85 and 95%, and this is what we hope for,” stressing the fact that these numbers are only expectations. "With the final numbers, we will submit an emergency use request," he added.
Cuba's goal is to vaccinate its entire population by the end of the year. "We believe that Cuba will be the first country to succeed in vaccinating all of its inhabitants with its own vaccine," Martinez said.
The country also hopes to sell its vaccine formulations abroad, and the Venezuelan government announced on Thursday the signing of a “contract to obtain” 12 million doses of Abdullah’s vaccine.
Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said from Caracas International Airport, where she was receiving the first batch of Abdullah's vaccine, without specifying its quantity, "This vaccine will be included in the vaccination campaign and the vaccination plan in Venezuela, and we signed a contract to obtain 12 million doses of Abdullah's vaccine." Which we will receive in the coming months.”
Vietnam, Iran and Argentina have expressed interest in obtaining vaccines developed in Cuba, while other countries have approached Cuba for information, according to scientists on the island.
