Only the close relation with scientists since the first Covid-19 outbreaks and the accelerated development of five vaccine candidates -three of which became vaccines- as well as the country´s health system efforts and the discipline shown by the Cuban people, made it possible to put coronavirus under control, Portal stated.

In a Friday´s meeting with members of solidarity groups, Cuban residents in Vietnam as well as the Cuban embassy staffers, Portal stressed that Cuba is currently reporting an average toll of 15 coronavirus-infected patients, with no serious cases or deaths. This is evidence of our vaccines´ effectiveness, he remarked.

So far, he praised, 42 million vaccine doses have been applied nationwide, allowing over 98% of the Cuban population (a bit more than 11 million inhabitants) to be fully vaccinated and over 85% to receive booster doses.

Cuba has been the world´s first nation in vaccinating children over two years of age, Portal added, while recalling that the highest peak of the pandemic in Cuba popped in July-September 2021 period, but by the end of that year national situation was already more favorable.

Referring to the Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz visit to Vietnam, Portal valued the meetings with Health Ministry leaders as positive, which ended up with the signing of an Action Plan for 2023-2025 period.

Portal stated that seven Cuban doctors are presently working in Vietnam, six of them in hospitals, and he also considered it possible this cooperation could be expanded in the near future.

pll/rob/mpm