Abdala: One more step in the fight against COVID-19

In the midst of the complex epidemiological situation faced by Havana due to COVID 19, there is encouraging news. The sanitary procedures of the Abdala vaccine candidate have already begun this week in four municipalities of the Cuban capital; this is one of the five vaccines that Cuba is developing, defying the economic limitations imposed by the pandemic and the genocidal U.S. blockade.

Residents of Regla, Habana del Este, Guanabacoa and San Miguel del Padrón have already received the first dose of Abdala, an immuno vaccine resulting from the constant hard work of the scientists from the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, an internationally renowned center for the effective medicines it has created, such as HEBERPROT-P, for diabetic foot ulcer patients, and HEBERFERON, to fight skin cancer.

They have worked tirelessly and fast to achieve these results, but always being extremely rigorous in every step they have made and also in the clinical evaluation strategy, because the health and protection of the people comes first.

Abdala successfully went through the three phases of the clinical trial, the first of which began last December and included 132 volunteers until it was extended to more than 48,000 people in the last phase, which concluded on May 1st.

An enormous effort has now been deployed to guarantee the appropriate conditions to begin with the sanitary intervention in Havana, which largely takes place in the primary health care centers within the community.

Likewise, consultation offices have been set up near the inoculation places to keep a strict observation of vaccinated people in case any side effect develops.

All personnel involved have been duly trained, including medical students, who have certainly played an outstanding role in the fight against the disease with their active participation in the nationwide screenings carried out to detect possible infections in time and prevent further spread of the virus.

But the citizens from the Isle of Youth are also being immunized, and given the unfavorable situation in the country, these interventions are being carried out in other territories such as Cienfuegos, Artemisa and Ciego de Avila.

The health personnel, who fight a daily battle against COVID 19, receive Abdala, which has a short vaccination scheme that will progressively benefit other groups at risk.

This is encouraging news, and a reflection of the effort deployed and the decisive role of Cuban science, which is also working on updating the protocol for confronting COVID 19, taking into account the virus behavior, which today is more lethal and contagious.

Cuba has spared no effort and has devoted considerable resources ti confront COVID 19 despite the obstacles imposed by the U.S. blockade, which, moreover, has intensified in times of pandemic. The complex and necessary process being developed in Havana is the result of that political will, as well as of the talent and dedication of our researchers who have made Abdala and other four vaccine candidates possible.