Venezuela receives first Abdala batch
The Venezuelan Vice President praises the results that the Cuban Abdala COVID-19 vaccine achieved, announcing that it has an efficacy rate of 92.28%.
Cuban Abdala COVID-19 vaccine.
As part of an agreement that includes Cuba supplying Venezuela with 12 million Abdala doses, Venezuela received the first batch of the indigenous Cuban vaccine manufactured by Centro de Ingeniería Genética y Biotecnología (Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology), CIGB, in the Caribbean island.
While receiving the vaccines, Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez praised the results of the Cuban vaccine, announcing that it has achieved an efficacy rate of 92.28% during the third clinical trial.
Additionally, Rodriguez congratulated Cuba on its diplomatic victory in the UN General Assembly, represented by the overwhelming global rejection of Washington's blockade of Havana, describing it as "the longest in human history."
She noted how Cuba today offers ethical, moral, scientific, and technological lessons to the world in confronting the impact of unilateral coercive measures, stressing that both countries are following the path of their historical leaders Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez in showcasing their inseparability, complementarity, and solidarity.
In turn, Cuban Ambassador to Venezuela, Dagoberto Rodriguez, pointed out that the vaccine supply highlights the depth of the relationship between the two countries, adding that "every bottle reflects a sense of brotherhood and solidarity."
The Cuban diplomat stressed that this agreement comes as the result of scientific and technological progress coupled with the political will to strengthen national bilateral ties for the welfare of the people.
The Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB) in Havana had announced earlier that their COVID-19 vaccine, Abdala, had achieved efficacy of 92.28% in its three-dose plan, as confirmed by the executives of the center.
It is noteworthy that the vaccine's name, 'Abdala', is inspired by a poem written in 1895 by the late Cuban national hero Jose Martí, known for his fondness of Arabs and frequent mentioning of them in his poems.
Overall, Cuba is developing 5 COVID-19 vaccines: Sopirana 01, Sopirana 02, Mambisa (of a nasal nature), Sopirana Plus, and Abdala.
