Chloe Ramirez
Cuba has been leading the way in innovative vaccine design for some time, having created a pioneering meningitis vaccine in the 90s and currently conducting a trial of a Cuban-made lung cancer vaccine. The country has a strong biotechnology and healthcare sector and has been investing public money in several COVID-19 vaccine candidates. As of 2021, Cuba has been working on producing 100 million doses of its vaccine, Soberana 2, or Sovereign 2, which is administered in three doses. The vaccine is in its final stage of testing and, if successful, could help boost the Cuban economy and change the global perspective on Cuban biomedical innovations.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country | Cuba |
| Leading the race for | Latin American coronavirus vaccine |
| Number of vaccine candidates | 5 |
| Number of vaccines in late-stage trials | 2 |
| Vaccine names | Sovereign 1, Sovereign 2, Soberana 2, Abdala |
| Number of doses | 2-3 |
| Time between doses | 2 weeks |
| Vaccine storage temperature | 46.4 degrees |
| Vaccine production goal for 2021 | 100 million |
| Vaccine production capabilities | 8 of the 12 vaccines in its national immunization program |
| Number of countries vaccines have been exported to | 40+ |
| Vaccine exports | Shots against meningitis and hepatitis B |
| Vaccine development collaborations | China, France, Iran, Italy |
| Vaccine testing volunteers | 55,000 Iranian volunteers |
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What You'll Learn
Cuba's Finlay Institute leads Latin America in vaccine development
Cuba's Finlay Institute, a state-run science centre in Havana, is leading Latin America in vaccine development. The Finlay Institute was created by Fidel Castro, who was committed to developing Cuba's biotech sector, and is owned and operated by the Cuban government.
Cuba has a strong history of vaccine research and development, including a pioneering meningitis vaccine in the 90s and a lung cancer vaccine currently being trialled by Johnson at the Roswell Centre. The Finlay Institute itself has been integral to this history, producing almost 80% of the vaccines used within the national immunisation programme.
Cuba's coronavirus vaccine, Soberana 2 (or Sovereign 2), is in its final phase of testing. The vaccine is administered in three doses, spaced two weeks apart. Vicente Vérez Bencomo, director of the Finlay Institute, told the BBC that:
> 'We hope in the future it will be possible to move to the next step in co-operation.'
Cuba is planning to produce 100 million doses of their vaccine in 2021, which would be enough to vaccinate its 11 million citizens, as well as tourists and citizens of other countries. This would be a significant scientific breakthrough and a political triumph, boosting the Cuban economy and changing the global perspective on Cuban biomedical innovations.
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The Sovereign 2 vaccine is in its final testing phase
Cuba has been leading the world in innovative vaccine design for quite some time. Their scientists created a pioneering meningitis vaccine in the 90s, and Johnson is currently conducting a trial of a Cuban-made lung cancer vaccine at the Roswell Center. The country has a strong biotech sector and laboratories of its own, and its experience in vaccine development has proven useful in the fight against COVID-19.
Cuba's Finlay Institute, owned and operated by the Cuban government, is leading Latin America in vaccine development. The country's coronavirus vaccine, called the Sovereign 2 or Soberana 2, is in its final testing phase. The vaccine is administered in three doses, spaced two weeks apart, and unlike the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, it does not need to be stored below freezing.
The Cuban government plans to produce 100 million doses of the vaccine in 2021, which would be enough to vaccinate its 11 million citizens, as well as tourists, and send leftover doses to other countries in need. The vaccine is currently being tested on 55,000 Iranian volunteers as part of a wider agreement to scale up immunization in both countries.
Cuba's success in developing its own vaccine and distributing it to its citizens and other countries could help boost its economy, which has been hard hit by the pandemic. It could also change the global perspective on Cuban biomedical innovations, many of which have been hindered by embargoes.
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Cuba's healthcare system and coronavirus response
Cuba's response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been hailed as remarkable, with the country successfully containing the spread of the virus. The country's rights-oriented healthcare model, which offers universal and free health coverage, has been pivotal in its fight against the pandemic.
Cuba's healthcare system is defined by its focus on prevention, continuity of care, and accessibility. The system is built around neighbourhood clinics, which provide easy access to medical services for the population. This emphasis on primary care and prevention has been instrumental in Cuba's response to COVID-19.
Even before the pandemic reached its shores, Cuba had developed a Plan for Coronavirus Prevention and Control with multisectoral participation. Once the first case was confirmed, the Temporary National Working Group to Fight COVID-19 was established as an advisory body to the government. The response to the pandemic included preventive measures in the community, isolation centres, and surveillance and monitoring of travellers. Cuba's approach prioritised the allocation of resources to areas with the lowest socioeconomic status, where the risk of infection was higher, thereby ensuring equitable health outcomes.
Cuba's experience in vaccine research and development has also been crucial. The country has a strong biotech sector and has developed several vaccines over the years. During the pandemic, Cuba worked on developing its own COVID-19 vaccine, Soberana 2, which is given in three doses. The country aimed to produce 100 million doses in 2021, enough to vaccinate its citizens and potentially tourists and other countries in need.
Cuba's response to the pandemic has had a positive impact beyond its borders. The country donated vaccines, medications, and medical personnel to several Latin American countries, including Brazil, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela, and Nicaragua. Cuba's humanitarian aid reflects its rights-oriented approach to healthcare and provides valuable lessons for other nations, particularly those with privatised and fragmented healthcare systems.
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The impact of US sanctions on Cuba's economy
Cuba has been leading Latin America in vaccine development. The country has been working on producing its own COVID-19 vaccine, called Soberana 2 or Sovereign 2, which is in its final testing stage. The vaccine is administered in three doses, with two weeks between each dose. The country is planning to produce 100 million doses of the vaccine in 2021, which will be enough to vaccinate its citizens and tourists.
Cuba's economy has been hard hit by the pandemic, and the production of an effective vaccine could help boost it. However, Cuba's economy has been impacted by US sanctions, which have been in place since the 1960s, with a comprehensive set of sanctions formalized by President John F. Kennedy in 1962. These sanctions have restricted trade, finance, investment, and economic growth in Cuba, making it difficult for the country to acquire medical supplies and equipment, including those necessary for vaccine production. The sanctions have also limited access to the internet, online courses, and financial services for small businesses. Additionally, banking and financial operations have become challenging due to Cuba being added to the list of countries allegedly sponsoring terrorism.
The impact of the sanctions has been felt in multiple areas of Cuba's economy. An econometric study examined the effects of policy shifts during the Clinton and George W. Bush administrations, finding that sanctions influence the dynamics of economic growth. While the Cuban government has claimed that the country's economic difficulties are entirely due to the embargo, econometric results show that sanctions impact economic growth to a similar extent as total exports.
The United Nations General Assembly has also discussed the "Necessity of ending the economic, commercial and financial embargo imposed by the United States of America against Cuba," with an overwhelming number of member states underscoring the detrimental and harmful consequences of the embargo. The Biden administration has continued to uphold the sanctions, despite calls for their removal.
The production and distribution of Cuba's COVID-19 vaccine could potentially help boost the country's economy, especially in the context of the pandemic's impact and the existing US sanctions.
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Cuba's vaccine diplomacy with other countries
Cuba has been leading Latin America in vaccine development. The Finlay Institute, owned and operated by the Cuban government, is at the forefront of these efforts. The country has planned to produce 100 million doses of its vaccine in 2021, with the possibility of vaccinating tourists as well. The vaccine, called Soberana 2 or Sovereign 2, is administered in three doses spaced two weeks apart.
Cuba's strong biotech sector and well-equipped laboratories have made it an attractive partner for cross-border cooperation in vaccine development. The country has engaged in joint research projects with the EU and China. Additionally, Cuba has been working on producing the Russian vaccine, Sputnik V, within its borders.
Cuba's healthcare workers have also been dispatched to other countries to provide medical assistance during the pandemic. In April 2020, over 200 healthcare workers were sent to South Africa, and another 1200 were sent to various African, Caribbean, and European countries, including Italy.
Cuba's efforts in vaccine diplomacy have the potential to boost its economy and change the global perspective on its biomedical innovations, which have often been hindered by embargoes and travel restrictions.
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Frequently asked questions
Cuba has been working on two vaccine candidates, known as Sovereign 1 and Sovereign 2, or Soberana 2.
Yes, Cuba successfully contained the spread of coronavirus by screening residents every day and treating infected people immediately.
Cuba has faced challenges due to shortages of equipment, spare parts, and other supplies, partly due to U.S. sanctions and the country's economic situation.
