Covid-19: Cuba begins clinical vaccination trials in children aged 3 and 11

The government of The Republic of Cuba has started a clinical trial of the Soberana 02 and Soberana Plus coronavirus vaccines in boys and girls between the ages of 3 and 11.

This was confirmed by President Miguel Díaz-Canel, who reported the news from his social media: “Today, the Sovereign-Pediatrics clinical trial will begin in children between the ages of 3 and 11,” he said. he announces.

Cuba is progressing with the clinical trial of its Sovereign vaccine in the island’s pediatric population, starting with a group of infants aged 3 to 11, according to the schedule provided by the Ministry of Public Health.

The news was also confirmed by the Finlay Vaccine Institute (IFV), developer of the study drug, which has already completed its third phase of clinical trials in adults and is currently being applied in a study of health intervention in areas at high risk of transmission. .

The island is developing five vaccines, three of which (Soberana 01, Soberana 02 and Soberana Plus) by the Finlay Vaccine Institute; while the others (Abdala and Mambisa) are in charge of the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology.

In the case of the Abdala project, On June 22, it was announced that it achieved 92.28% efficacy with its 3-dose regimen, at the same time that it became “the second of the Cuban vaccine candidates to meet the requirements demanded by the World Organization. of health “.

On June 14, the pediatric vaccination program began with a first group of adolescents aged 12 to 18, who received Soberana 02 and Soberana Plus in a three-dose schedule, as applied in the adult population.

On the other hand, the island has recorded 2,698 new cases of coronavirus and has accumulated a total of 1,253 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

Around May the Argentine Ambassador to the Republic of Cuba, Luis Ilarregui, stressed the possibility that “during this year we will be able to have Cuban vaccines in Argentina” to continue the vaccination campaign against the coronavirus.

Confirming that “there are already negotiations between Cuban and Argentinian officials to move forward in signing an agreement,” the diplomat stressed that in a complex global context due to the shortage of vaccines and the geopolitical dispute over the release patents, Cuba is joining as another possible producer of coronavirus vaccines because “it has developed two vaccines and they have another in development,” the ambassador said.