At a meeting in Buenos Aires with Cuban residents in Argentina, members of the Solidarity Movement and graduates from Cuba, the doctor in Pharmaceutical Sciences and deputy director of that institution, Yury Valdés, shared their experiences as part of the team that created the Soberana (01, 02 and Plus) vaccines to fight the health crisis that affected the world in 2019.
According to García, among the elements that defined Cuba’s achievements in confronting the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus are the quality and training of human resources, the productive facilities, the capacity for alliance between national and foreign entities and the flexibilization of regulatory mechanisms, all of which are the result of investments and transformations promoted in the sector by the historic leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro (1926-2016).
In statements to Prensa Latina, the researcher pointed out that Cuba was the first country to carry out a massive vaccination campaign during the pandemic, which covered 1.8 million children, more than 95 percent of the children’s population between 2 and 18 years of age.
This occurred between September and November 2021 and was a highlight of the intense work done in the previous two years.
There were no serious adverse events because we have very safe platforms, on which many other drugs that are part of the scheme administered to children from birth are based, he said. Cuba shone scientifically and the results are now published in foreign journals, which is a recognition. We enjoy an important prestige. We took another step forward in the long road to continue to develop biotechnological products for the health of the people and to generate sources of income for our country, she said.
Valdés, in turn, acknowledged the role of science in decision-making in Cuba and in the search for solutions to complex problems in the current context.
The scientist, who is also member of the Council of State, pointed out that the development of the sector, economic growth, the proper functioning of society and social justice are basic elements of the Revolution.
He pointed out that the IFV is now resuming important projects on the main existing pathologies and diseases, which had to be stopped due to the pandemic.
During the meeting, he recalled that fighting Covid-19 in Cuba was aggravated by the economic, commercial and financial blockade of the United States, which affected the supply of filtration systems and supplies, and made access to the necessary resources extremely expensive.
Cuba’s independence and sovereignty at the time meant having our own vaccines to save our people. What has been achieved is the result of the efforts of the people, the healthcare personnel, scientists and all workers, he said.
Valdés thanked the friends from Argentina and the world who contributed to the immunization campaign by sending syringes and other solidarity actions.
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