The situation due to the current Covid-19 pandemic is increasingly complex and complicated. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 4.4 million new cases have been confirmed during the last week. This is one of the highest figures since the beginning of the crisis. With this they now add up to a total of 210 million infected people. While the category of fatalities is located at 4.41 million and maintains constant growth.
To deal with this situation, there is already 16 different vaccines that have passed all phases of clinical trials. To date are the options that are applied in more than a hundred countries. Although they vary in their efficacy and required doses, all of them have been shown to work to reduce the risk of suffering serious pictures of this new disease.
While now the novelty is that two immunization options are added. They are Soberana 2 and Soberana Plus. Both were developed by the Cuban government and today it was announced that they received the permission for emergency use on the island by the Center for State Control of Medicines, Equipment and Medical Devices (Cecmed).
CECMED approves the Authorization for the Emergency Use of Cuban Vaccines SOBERANA 02 and SOBERANA PLUS https://t.co/ysqYqXpMs5 pic.twitter.com/XgaLuuCdki
– CECMED (@cubacecmed) August 20, 2021
Efficacy and necessary doses
The combination of both biologics from the Finlay Vaccine Institute (IFV) demonstrated an efficacy of 91.2 percent in the prevention of symptomatic disease. This was verified by an interim analysis corresponding to phase 3 clinical trials. More than 40 thousand volunteers participated in its preparation in eight municipalities of Havana.
For their part, the Cuban authorities explained that the general indications are that three doses are required to complete the vaccination schedule. You should first receive two injections of Soberana 02 and then one of Soberana Plus. While at the moment the main instruction is that it is only recommended for adults.
While according to the manufacturers, they are already working on the corresponding pediatric clinical trials. Successful results are expected to be repeated in order to expand use for infants across the country.
Cuba already has 3 own vaccines
With this, Cuba remains the only nation in Latin America that has managed to design its own vaccine against Covid-19. In addition, you now have three options available. The first was Abdala and it was only approved on July 9.
According to what was observed in clinical trials, it offers an efficacy of 92.28 percent when the three doses are received two weeks apart. The vaccine is not vector nor does it work by means of mRNA technology but is protein. This means that it carries a part of the spike protein that the virus uses to bind to human cells. While it binds to the receptors of the virus’s own peak protein, which triggers an immune reaction.
While on the other hand, these innovations are presented precisely at the time of greatest gravity for Cuba. During the last weeks there has been an exponential increase in the number of infected and several hospitals already report a maximum occupancy.
On the other hand, it is necessary to remember that a few months ago Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said that Mexico was interested in acquiring the vaccines against Covid-19 manufactured by Cuba. At the moment all the manufactured doses will be for national use but it is not ruled out that in the future some batches may be sold abroad.