The first disbursements are expected to be made in the remaining months of 2021. Photo: Jorge Pérez/PL
Havana, Sep 23 (RHC) On Wednesday, French Ambassador in Havana, Patrice Paoli informed that his country will support Cuba in the production of vaccines against meningitis and pneumonia, and announced a counter-value fund in the amount of 45 million euros.
The diplomat said in a meeting that such financing is destined to the Finlay Vaccine Institute (IFV). It will have a duration of three years and will make it possible to equip and remodel vaccine production plants in Cuba.
"This collaboration constitutes a priority for France in projects with Cuba in the health sector," he added.
He added that this represents a decisive step, and the first disbursements are expected to be made in the remaining months of 2021.
In his words of thanks, Cuban scientist Vicente Vérez Bencomo, director of the IFV, recalled that the collaboration between Cuba and France in this sector has been going on for several years, and in the previous year the French Development Agency (AFD) supported with 5.3 million euros (approximately 6.2 million dollars) the work to control the Covid-19 pandemic in Cuba.
He emphasized that this new financing will serve, together with that of the IFV, to expand the production of subunit vaccines, on whose platforms the Cuban anti-Covid-19 formulations are based.
For the institution, by providing quality vaccines at an affordable cost, distributed through the WHO and Unicef, this project will improve vaccination coverage against meningitis and pneumonia, and will contribute to reducing inequalities between countries and populations in terms of access to health and vaccination.
The event was attended by Inalvis Bonachaea, director of Trade Policy with Europe of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, and the vice president of the National Bank of Cuba, Maritza Rojo.
In the 80s of the 20th century, Cuba developed VA-MENGOC-BC, from IFV, massively used since 1989 and included in the National Immunization Program. (Source: PL)
