PL

Havana, July 3 (RHC)-- The U.S. organization Knowledge Ecology International (KEI) sent a memorandum to the White House. It asked to clarify the scope of sanctions exceptions for Cuba's vaccine program and support the evaluation and registration of its COVID-19 vaccines.

According to the health news platform Health Policy Watch, KEI - a nonprofit group in favor of affordable access to medicines - requested that federal agencies collaborate with Cuban research institutes to fund expanded or additional clinical trials.

In its message, the entity acknowledged that over the past year and a half, in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, Washington's sanctions against Cuba affected the ability of companies and nonprofits to work with the island on its vaccine program.

"The Biden administration needs to clear the air and reassure the WHO, suppliers of inputs, and others that none of the U.S. sanctions against Cuba extend to activities to make, sell or distribute its vaccines. This should extend to royalties or other payments to the Cuban research institutions that have developed the vaccine, and that will be involved in the transfer of know-how.," KEI claimed.

In that way, the organization reminded the current administration of the memorandum of understanding signed in June 2016 between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Cuban Ministry of Public Health, which is still in effect and is highly relevant COVID-19.