Olympic champion Julio Cesar La Cruz getting vaccinated against COVID-19

Havana, March 27 (RHC)-- Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel has highlighted the presence of great Cuban sports figures in Phase Three of the trial of the Cuban vaccine against COVID-19 called Soberana 02.

"Exciting to see our sports stars with their shoulder, proudly ready for a Cuban vaccine against #COVID19.  They are Champions and the creators of the vaccines are Champions, too.  #SomosCuba #CubaViva," the president wrote on the social network Twitter.

The first dose of the vaccine candidate against COVID-19, Soberana 02, was received on Thursday by members of the national boxing and wrestling teams, health specialists, coaches and managers.

Moments after being immunized at the Institute of Sports Medicine, boxer Julio Cesar La Cruz, Olympic champion in Rio de Janeiro 2016, thanked the Revolution and Cuban science for being part of this phase of the trial.

He highlighted the significance this has for the Island's sports movement, as part of its preparation with a view to the Tokyo 2021 Olympic Games.

"In recognition of these achievements of scientists, the best gift we will be able to give, as well as to the country's top leadership and our people, will be to take the Olympic gold medal," the Camagüey boxer stressed.

The testing process on athletes and other sports personnel will continue on March 29 and on April 2, 8, 12 and 21, when the first stage will end.  The second dose will be administered 28 days later and the third dose (with Soberana Plus) after three months.

Prior to the start of the vaccination, the medical staff provided extensive information to those involved, among whom there are no persons who have suffered from the disease.

Once they had signed the consent document, they underwent a general medical examination, which confirmed that they were fit to receive the dose.

All the documentation was meticulously prepared and after the vaccination, a one-hour follow-up examination was carried out.