Speaking to the newspaper, the representative of Cuba stressed that these achievements cannot be seen in isolation at the level reached by the Cuban health system in recent decades.

She explained that the domestic immunization program is one of its successes, which includes free vaccination against 13 diseases.

Diaz also pointed out that eight of the drugs to combat 11 of these diseases are produced in Cuba.

The official explained that the Finlay Vaccine Institute, in cooperation with the Center for Molecular Immunology and the Center for Biopreparations, is developing the vaccine candidates Soberana 01, Soberana 02 and Soberana Plus.

For its part, the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology is advancing in different phases of clinical trials with the Abdala and Mambisa prospects along with the AICA Laboratories, the Cuban diplomat indicated.

She clarified that, according to health institutions, open intervention trials are currently being carried out in parallel with Soberana 02 and Abdala, involving around half a million Cubans, more than 70 percent of whom have already received the first dose.

Diaz also pointed out that the five Cuban candidates are based on technological platforms known to the island’s specialists, which have generated millions of doses of other vaccines distributed in Cuba and the world, with proven safety, efficacy and effectiveness.

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