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CUBA'S VACCINE

Cuban vaccine Abdala produces strong immune response in children and adolescents

Cuban vaccine Abdala produces strong immune response in children and adolescents
An increase of 99.15% in antibody titers was noted in children three to 11 years of age, while 12 to 18 year-olds experienced an increase of 98.28%, during a clinical trial with more than 500 participants conducted in Camagüey

Author: National news staff | informacion@granma.cu
december 6, 2021 10:12:23

Photo: Ismael Batista
A high number of IGG anti-RBD antibody titers, equivalent to four or more times that seen before immunization, was observed following the administration of the Abdala vaccine in Cuban children and adolescents, during the Ismaelillo pediatric clinical study.
The Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB), developer of the immunogen, reported on Twitter that seroconversion levels were significantly higher after vaccination in the age groups studied.
More than 500 children and adolescents participated in the clinical trial, conducted in Camagüey. An increase of 99.15% in antibody titers was noted among those between three and 11 years of age, while 12 to 18 year-olds experienced an increase of 98.28%.
The research was carried out over a three month period and officially concluded on October 13. Among its preliminary results, it was reported that more than 80% of the adverse side effects noted were mild, and other data gathered was comparable to that of adults, collected in other studies, thus demonstrating that the vaccine is safe and effective.
On October 27, after analyzing the results of the clinical trial, the Center for State Control of Medicines, Equipment and Medical Devices (Cecmed) authorized emergency use of the Cuban vaccine Abdala vaccine in the pediatric population between 2 and 11 years of age.
The regimen indicated involves a three-dose schedule, with 14-day intervals between each administration. Children two years of age and above were included in this approval, considering the information provided by the manufacturer, which justified their inclusion, Cecmed stated.
In the general population, phase iii clinical trials of the Abdala vaccine have shown efficacy of 92.28% in preventing symptomatic cases of Covid-19.

EL BLOQUEO EN TIEMPOS DE PANDEMIA

Cuba celebra viva y alegre

Cuba celebra viva y alegre
El entusiasmo de Cuba viva, aunque les pese a algunos, inundará este fin de año los parques, las plazas, los barrios… de risas, bailes, danzas, dramatizados, pinturas, arte en general. La propuesta llega de la mano del Ministerio de Cultura, para celebrar desde la belleza la jornada Triunfo de la Revolución, en conmemoración a su aniversario 63

Autor: Ricardo Alonso Venereo | internet@granma.cu
24 de diciembre de 2021 20:12:43


Foto: Granma
¡En esta Cuba siempre será posible hasta lo imposible!, dijo, en su más reciente discurso, el Primer Secretario del Partido y Presidente de la República, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez. Por desafiante que parezca, la certeza es razón más que sabida por el pueblo cubano, que a fuerza de defenderlo, y en el fragor de un año duro pero incapaz de amilanarlo, se ha ganado el derecho a la alegría.

El entusiasmo de Cuba viva, aunque les pese a algunos, inundará este fin de año los parques, las plazas, los barrios… de risas, bailes, danzas, dramatizados, pinturas, arte en general. La propuesta llega de la mano del Ministerio de Cultura, para celebrar desde la belleza la jornada Triunfo de la Revolución, en conmemoración a su aniversario 63.

Razones sobran para que a la fiesta que significa arribar a la fecha, habiendo vacunado a la mayoría de su población contra la COVID-19, junto a muchos otros motivos –como haberles demostrado a los incrédulos que el pueblo cubano afianza sus destinos en pos del socialismo– se sume un grupo de acciones que, sin descuidar la protección de cara a la pandemia, representen momentos de satisfacción y disfrute de los cubanos.

A nivel nacional continúan desarrollándose la 14 Bienal de La Habana, la Feria de Artesanía, y se proyecta el filme El Mayor, de Rigoberto López, hasta el 2 de enero. En las provincias prosiguen las actuaciones de las bandas de conciertos, las funciones teatrales y danzarias, la presentación de artistas aficionados, de la ahs y miembros de las brigadas José Martí, las cantorías infantiles, los recorridos históricos, las presentaciones de libros y los talleres de creación.

La Habana se abre a la Jornada Cuba Va. Hasta 46 barrios vulnerables de los 15 municipios llegarán, desde hoy y hasta el miércoles 29, más de cien agrupaciones y unidades artísticas. Se suman el parqueo de la heladería Coppelia y el parque John Lennon, y en la céntrica esquina de Prado y Neptuno, esta noche se presentan el Conjunto de Arsenio Rodríguez y la Orquesta Jorrín.

El 1ro. de enero toda Cuba disfrutará de los bailables que llegarán a todos los municipios de la capital.

En Matanzas, el 2 de enero, tendrá lugar La función de teatro más larga, a cargo de Teatro de las Estaciones; en Pinar del Río, el 1ro. y el 2 habrá un Cuba Baila; en Artemisa, el 2, cantorías infantiles; en Mayabeque, en San José de las Lajas, el 9 se hará una gala por el aniversario 11 de la fundación de la provincia, y en Santiago de Cuba no faltará la tradicional Fiesta de la Bandera.

Festivales provinciales de la canción Cuba qué linda es Cuba y Cantándole a la Revolución (este último, simultáneamente, el 2 de enero, en todo el país); las Parrandas de Remedios (hasta el 28), y las cenas por fin de año, acompañadas de espectáculos musicales, y la Gala del Ballet Nacional de Cuba Alicia Alonso, el 1ro. de enero a las 5:00 p.m., por el Canal Cubavisión, son otras de las opciones que podrá disfrutar nuestro pueblo.

COVID-19 battle

Cuba expands studies of lingering after-effects of COVID-19

Cuba expands studies of lingering after-effects of COVID-19
Nearly one million Cubans have suffered a case of COVID-19, and given the after-effects of the disease, their full recovery is a priority for the country

Author: René Tamayo | internet@granma.cu
december 8, 2021 11:12:17


The ingenuity and innovative capacity of Cuban science have been key to the medical attention provided COVID patients. Photo: Estudio Revolución
Nearly one million Cubans have suffered a case of COVID-19, and given the after-effects of the disease, their full recovery is a priority for the country.
A study on the comprehensive rehabilitation of patients with post-COVID-19 sequelae, conducted at the 10 de Octubre Surgical Clinical Hospital, was the focus of attention during a meeting, held the last week of November, of Cuban scientists and the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez.
These gatherings have become regular events over the past two years, with scientists and experts involved in research and technological innovation reporting on their work in the battle against the coronavirus.
MSc Yulmis Rodríguez Borges presented partial findings of the study, which included patients who had discharged from the hospital at least two weeks, after testing negative for the virus, who experienced moderate disability as a result of symptoms associated with the disease, among other inclusion criteria.
More than 70% were individuals between 50 to 59 years of age or 60 years and over, reflecting the vulnerability of these sectors of the population, long after being infected.
Among the most frequent symptoms reported by the convalescents were severe exhaustion and fatigue during walking and daily activities, shortness of breath, anxiety, joint pain (dorsal, lumbar, shoulders, knees), insomnia and sleep disorders, depression, voice abnormalities and difficulty swallowing.
The results showed that 90% experienced severe exhaustion and fatigue during walking and daily activities; 70% shortness of breath; and 65% anxiety. Radiologist reported that 81.7% showed ground-glass opacity, and 71.7% had x-rays indicating fibrotic tracts in the lungs. One hundred percent experienced a decline in health-related quality of life indicators.
Rodriguez reported that, after the protocol intervention, functional capacity for daily activities and walking improved in most patients; shortness of breath decreased in 100%, and health-related quality of life indicators increased in seven of eight categories.
He emphasized that the findings validate the need to continue providing follow-up attention to these patients and evaluate their evolution in all the areas identified, over the coming months,
Given the potential impact of the study, the President asked about efforts to disseminate the results.
Dr. Leovy Edrey Semino García, the Ministry of Health’s director of Rehabilitation, explained that this is an example of what is being done across the country to treat the lingering after-effects of COVID-19. Work is underway to improve the care provided these patients, making it more comprehensive, re-evaluating programs, which go beyond physical rehabilitation. We are also investigating the main disabling symptoms and early signs of problems, he added, in order to provide more timely care to these patients, almost one million Cuban men, women, and children.
“While we are evaluating convalescents with different after-effects, from mild to severe,” Dr. Semino continued, “We are also conducting other studies, including those of persons who were not infected, but suffered the effects of prolonged confinement, especially older adults.”
The President insisted on the importance of reaching all convalescents with after-effects. This work requires a multidimensional approach, he said, and should include coordination with the Sports, Recreation and Physical Education Institute (Inder) to provide patients differentiated attention in the areas of physical culture and sports, promoting differentiated exercise programs for older adults and others.

Cuba and Angola’s Liberation

Thirty-two years have passed, but Cuba has not forgotten

Return of fallen internationalists commemorated
Thirty-two years have passed, but Cuba has not forgotten. On December 7, 1989, the remains of 2,289 combatants who gave their lives on internationalist missions in Africa were returned to the arms of the homeland

Author: Pedro Ríoseco | internet@granma.cu
december 7, 2021 11:12:53


All the country’s cities received the remains of their prodigal sons, and honored to them in Pantheons of the Fallen established in all municipalities. Photo: Liborio Noval


Thirty-two years have passed, but Cuba has not forgotten. On December 7, 1989, the remains of 2,289 combatants who gave their lives on internationalist missions in Africa were returned to the arms of the homeland, in an effort entitled Operation Tribute.
All the country’s cities received the remains of their prodigal sons, and honored to them in Pantheons of the Fallen established in all municipalities.
General Antonio Maceo’s mausoleum, in El Cacahual, hosted the symbolic national ceremony with the remains of 16 internationalists, one from each provinces and the Isle of Youth special municipality, on the date when the Titan and his faithful assistant Panchito Gomez Toro fell in battle against the Spanish colonialists.
“These men and women, to whom we give an honorable burial today, in the warm land where they were born, died for the most sacred values, they died fighting against colonialism and neocolonialism, racism and apartheid, plundering and exploitation of the peoples of the Third World, for independence and sovereignty, for the right to wellbeing and development of all peoples, for socialism, for internationalism, for the revolutionary and dignified homeland that Cuba is today,” said Fidel at that time, reaffirming the commitment follow their example.
Of these internationalists, 2,085 were participating in military missions in the defense of the nascent independence of the People’s Republic of Angola, and 204 took on civilian tasks, as part of the 377,033 Cuban volunteers who fought in that country during the 15 and a half years of Operation Carlota.
The Cuban government always informed families of the death of each internationalist (in combat, due to accidents or illness), but it was impossible, in the middle of the war, to repatriate their corpses and bury them in their hometowns. But the Revolution did not forget any of its sons and daughters, and to fulfill that humanitarian commitment, Operation Tribute was organized.
As Army General Raul Castro Ruz said on December 12, 1976, “From Angola we will take with us only the intimate friendship that unites us to that heroic nation, the gratitude of its people and the mortal remains of our dear brothers and sisters who fell in the line of duty.” And so it was.