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BioCubaFarma COVID-19 battle

Efficacy of 91.2% with two doses of Soberana 02 and one of Soberana Plus

Efficacy of 91.2% with two doses of Soberana 02 and one of Soberana Plus
Results of clinical trials of this combination of Soberana candidate vaccines were announced yesterday at a meeting of the government’s COVID-19 task force, led by First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez

Author: René Tamayo León | internet@granma.cu
july 9, 2021 09:07:19


Photo: Estudios Revolución
The combination of two doses of the candidate vaccine Soberana 02 and one of Soberana Plus, administered in a 0-28-56 day regimen, was found to have an efficacy of 91.2 percent, in preventing symptomatic cases of COVID-19, reported Dr. Vicente Vérez Bencomo, director of the Finlay Vaccine Institute (IFV), at Thursday’s meeting of the Cuban government’s COVID-19 prevention and control task force.

The First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, congratulated the IFV and other institutions that participated in the creation of Soberana, “a result,” he said, “that is an indication of how hard our scientists have worked.”

Dr. Vérez recalled that the announcement comes exactly 415 days (59 weeks) after the President of the Republic met with a group of scientists at the Cuban Neurosciences Center (Cneuro) and requested that they develop a Cuban vaccine against the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

Referring to the meeting at the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, a few weeks ago, when the 92.28 percent efficacy of the Abdala vaccine candidate was announced to workers there, Diaz-Canel recalled that he made the request with the conviction that Cuban scientists would succeed.

It was necessary, he pointed out, at the time, to have our own vaccines to achieve sovereignty in the COVID-19 battle, convinced that “Poor countries are not going to be able to have, on short order, the available vaccines that the rich world is producing to prioritize the rich.”

He recalled that the result was validated in phase 3 of the clinical trial carried out in eight municipalities of Havana, precisely when the strain originally detected in South Africa (Beta), “considered a “the beast” in terms of resisting vaccines against SARS-CoV-2,” was circulating within the capital.


Photo: Estudios Revolución
The characteristics of the Beta strain, however, are not the same as those of the Delta strain detected in India, which, the IFV leader noted, is highly contagious, but much more susceptible to vaccines.

On Thursday afternoon, the Institute’s staff gathered to celebrate the successful results welcomed by all of Cuba.

As Dr. Vérez Bencomo pointed out in a previous meeting with the country’s leadership, IFV scientists are only halfway there; “We still have a lot to do, and we will not rest until the entire population is immunized with Cuban vaccines.”

Also leading the government task force meeting were Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz, Vice President of the Republic Salvador Valdés Mesa and Roberto Morales Ojeda, Communist Party of Cuba secretary for Organization and Cadre Policy.

Hurricanes

Cuba prepared for Elsa and ready to begin recovery

Cuba prepared for Elsa and ready to begin recovery
As tropical storm Elsa makes landfall this morning, Cuba’s western provinces, including Havana, are prepared, while Party First Secretary and President Miguel Diaz-Canel notes that recovery efforts in central and eastern regions have begun

Author: National news staff | informacion@granma.cu
july 5, 2021 11:07:28


Photo: INSMET.
Cuba is ready to confront tropical storm Elsa, under the special conditions created by the epidemic, and prepared to rapidly begin recovery work, stated First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba Central Committee and President of the Republic Miguel Diaz-Canel yesterday, during a joint meeting of the government COVID-19 task force and the National Defense Council’s socio-economic authority.

At this point, damages reported are concentrated in agriculture, especially in the province of Granma, the President tweeted and called on the population to stay in safe locations, to avoid any loss of human life, noting, “Discipline is key to overcoming this situation with the least possible harm.”

He likewise emphasized the professional work of the Meteorology Institute and thanked the press for keeping the population well informed, adding, “Our country rises to the occasion before adversity.”

Elsa is projected to make landfall between Cienfuegos and the Zapata Peninsula, around noon today, July 5, crossing the island to enter the Gulf of Mexico along the northern coast between the provinces of Matanzas and Artemisa this evening, according to Dr. José Rubiera.

Cuba / US Relations

Washington’s accusation in its report that Cuba engages in people trafficking is a lie

Washington’s accusation in its report that Cuba engages in people trafficking is a lie
Declaration by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Minrexjuly 5, 2021 12:07:11


Photo: MINREX
On July 1, 2021, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken submitted his department’s ‘2020 Trafficking in Persons Report’, a document which, in common with others of the kind published by the Department, entirely lacks international or moral authority; it is a vehicle purely for false accusations and political blackmail.

It propagates yet another lie, by accusing Cuba of inadequate compliance with the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking in persons and of failing to make significant efforts in this respect. This accusation forms part of a campaign by Washington to discredit Cuba’s international cooperation efforts in the sphere of healthcare, for which Cuba has received recognition by dozens of governments and the gratitude of the populations which have benefited from it – almost entirely the humblest and most disadvantaged of the countries concerned; it has also evoked plaudits from the UN, the WHO and other international bodies.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs rejects in the strongest possible terms this defamatory campaign by the US government, instigated in concert with America’s most reactionary and corrupt sectors, including extremist groups of Cuban origin represented in Congress by the likes of Senators Marco Rubio and Robert Menéndez.

Cuba has a policy of zero tolerance of trafficking in persons in any form and an impeccable record of prevention, combating and victim protection in this field, as recorded at the UN and with other international organizations.

Access to medical attention is a human right. Washington is committing a crime when it seeks to prevent people from receiving such services under bilateral agreements entered into freely and as a sovereign act between Cuba and dozens of governments, to benefit from the professional, dedicated, selfless work in a spirit of solidarity by hundreds of thousands of Cuban medical co-workers.

By repeating the immoral prevarications of the Trump administration, the present US foreign policy casts doubt on the seriousness of America’s commitment to combating the terrible scourge of people trafficking, while trivializing the international efforts underway in this respect.

America itself is among the countries with the worst problems of person trafficking. Its policies aimed at stifling the Cuban economy and its failure to honor bilateral migration accords play into the hands of organizations linked to international crime, smuggling of emigrants and trafficking in persons.

Havana, July 3, 2021

Cuba and China

Cuba celebrates the centenary of the Communist Party of China

Cuba celebrates the centenary of the Communist Party of China
In a message to the General Secretary of the Chinese Party, Cuba’s President emphasized, “We are pleased that relations between our parties are characterized by their full maturity, expressed in political confidence, exchanges of experiences, equality and mutual respect.”

Author: Milagros Pichardo Pérez | internet@granma.cu
july 2, 2021 09:07:05


Photo: Estudios Revolución
With a ceremony presided by Army General Raúl Castro Ruz and First Secretary of the Party Central Committee and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, Cuba commemorated the centenary of the Communist Party of China, and reaffirmed the indestructible ties of friendship shared by the two nations.

In a message to the General Secretary of the Chinese Party, Cuba’s President emphasized, “We are pleased that relations between our parties are characterized by their full maturity, expressed in political confidence, exchanges of experiences, equality and mutual respect.”

During the event, Party Political Bureau member and Secretary of Organization and Cadre Policy, Roberto Morales Ojeda, extended fraternal congratulations from the Communist Party and people of Cuba to all Chinese Communists, on the occasion of the centenary of their Party.

He reaffirmed our support to the principle of “one China” and rejected any attempt to interfere in its internal affairs. He also thanked the Asian country for its unwavering support to the Cuban struggle against the U.S. blockade.


Photo: José Manuel Correa
He emphasized that both parties are intent on improving mechanism to facilitate coordination and exchanges, support for economic and cooperative relations, as well as regular consultation on strategic issues.

Zhang Yiwen, chargé d’affaires at the Chinese Embassy in Havana, in her remarks thanked Cuba for taking the initiative to celebrate the date, adding, “Relations between China and Cuba are at the best moment in their history, and are characterized by full maturity and confidence.”