Cuba's vaccination rates surpass more affluent countries

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Cuba has vaccinated more citizens against Covid-19 than most larger, more affluent countries, a record achievement that will make the island a testbed as the extremely contagious Omicron variant is on the rise globally. 

According to data by "Our World in Data," the country is second to the UAE in countries with populations of at least 1 million. Over 90 percent of the population has received one dose and 83 percent are fully immunized.

The success can be attributed to Cuba's development of its own vaccine, instead of relying on other nations.

Schools have reopened as almost all children 2 to 18 have received full immunization.

According to witnesses, hospitals and morgues seem to be running at pre-pandemic levels.

According to William Moss, director of the Johns Hopkins International Vaccine Access Center, “It is a truly remarkable accomplishment, given the size of Cuba, and also the US embargo, that restricts their ability to import."

When administered in three doses, Cuba claims that their domestic, protein-based Abdala, Soberana 02, and Soberana Plus injections provide up to 90% protection against infection.

Cuba's vaccines are regarded by health experts as a possible source for doses in low-income countries in Latin America, African, and Asia, due to them not requiring deep freezing, and their cheap production costs.

Cuba is also investigating if the Omicron variety, which was first reported on the island on December 8, may have an influence on protection.

A recent study has revealed that several of the most extensively used worldwide vaccinations are likely to be less protective against Omicron infection. The vaccines are predicted to continue to be effective against serious disease and death.

The documentation and data required for assessing the Soberana vaccines, created by Cuba's Finlay Vaccine Institute, will be sent to the WHO in the first quarter of 2022, according to the Institute's head Vincente Verez.

According to Verez, WHO criteria, which evaluate not just the vaccines but also their production facilities, have hampered Cuba's progress due to its older facilities.

Verez stated that Cuba is in talks with both Canada and Italy about producing vaccines for sale to places in need, such as Africa.