Cuba begins on Monday the initial phase of clinical trials in humans with its first vaccine candidate to fight Covid-19, named Soberana 01.

Havana, Cuba.- The second stage of those clinical trials is scheduled for September 11, when 676 volunteers will be completed.

The vaccine candidate is the result of Cuba's accumulated experience in preventive medicine, mass immunization, and the progress of its biopharmaceutical industry, which currently shows a well-earned international prestige.

Cuba currently administers 11 vaccines, including eight that are made in Cuba, with an average of 4.8 million annual doses of simple or combined immunogens providing protection against 13 diseases. Vaccination coverage for all vaccines is above 98%, and the population's level of immunity is high.

Vaccination in Cuba is free, universal and integrated into primary healthcare. It is a commitment and political will to the population's health through a comprehensive health system.

"The Cuban vaccine candidate to fight Covid-19, Soberana 01, is the first in Latin America and the first in a country poor in economic resources, but great in spirit, this is also the reason why we have succeeded," Dr. Vicente Vérez, director at the Finlay Vaccine Institute, said. (PL)