Two new updates on clinical evidence confirming the effectiveness of the Cuban anti-COVID-19 vaccines, Abdala and Soberana, were presented this Tuesday afternoon at the Palace of the Revolution, as part of the systematic meetings that the country's leadership is holding. with experts and scientists for health issues.

The results of the immunogens, which continue to be endorsed by science, continue to confirm, said the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, that both vaccines are "a milestone in Cuban medicine, of the Cuban biopharmaceutical industry, of our health system, of the Revolution.”

It has been —he added— a tremendous result in the midst of the complex moments that the world and Cuba have been experiencing.

Updated clinical evidence ratifies the effectiveness of our vaccines, but this is also verified daily in the control we have of the pandemic, he analyzed. Since February of this year, the President exemplified, we have been free of complications related to COVID-19.

Also —he added— the peak of the omicron variant was a third of the pandemic peak of the Delta strain, contrary to what happened in the world; and in recent months there have been three deaths from this disease, the daily positive cases have generally not exceeded five, and in recent weeks they have not exceeded three.

Now that we are approaching the end of the year, a new anniversary of the triumph of the Revolution —reflected the President of the Republic— this is news that gives joy.

In the midst of the complexities of recent times —he stressed— having achieved our own vaccines, having controlled COVID-19, also gave us the ability to face all the other things that we have had to assume in this time.

Once again —said the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party— the people will give eternal gratitude to all those who made the vaccines and the protocols for confronting the pandemic possible, and to that same people, who understood it, understood it, support, trusted and put his shoulder to receive his own vaccines.

Evidence of science and soul

The meeting this Tuesday with experts and scientists on health issues was also headed by the member of the Political Bureau Manuel Marrero Cruz, Head of the Government of the Republic, and the vice prime ministers Inés María Chapman Waugh and Jorge Luis Perdomo Di-Lella.

Moderated by Dr. Tania Margarita Cruz Hernández, First Deputy Minister of Public Health, the exchange provided an update on the new clinical evidence regarding the effectiveness of the Abdala vaccine, produced by the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB).

In charge of the doctor in Sciences Verena Muzio González, director of Clinical Investigations of the CIGB, the presentation detailed studies in both adults and pediatric ages from three to 18 years.

Among other results, he reported, Abdala produces a long-lasting response over time, with a powerful memory immune response, before the application of booster doses, despite even the short time of the immunization schedule (three doses every 14 days). , the shortest for this type of vaccine worldwide.

Dr. Muzio González argued about the effectiveness of Abdala among children and adolescents from three to 18 years of age, as well as the demonstrated capacity of the vaccine to induce high antibody titers and seroresponse against the omicron variant of SARS-COV-2, both in pediatric and adult populations.

Doctor of Science Vicente Vérez Bencomo, general director of the Finlay Institute of Vaccines, spoke about the study that updates the effectiveness of the Soberana vaccine, an immunogen that has been a gift to the Cuban and world child population.

After a brief but detailed analysis, he reported that the estimated effectiveness of the Soberana, the first on the planet to be applied to children, is 93.3 percent against symptomatic disease of COVID-19 due to the omicron variant and its subvariants in children. from two to five years.

This is probably, he claimed, the only vaccine in the world that achieves that effectiveness.

The meeting also offered the usual update of the forecast models for COVID-19 in the coming days, by Dr. Raúl Guinovart Díaz, dean of the Faculty of Mathematics and Computing at the University of Havana.

The specialist explained that the mathematical models suggest that control of the pandemic will be maintained in all provinces and a decrease in cases in the coming weeks. At home, he added, a high level of immunity is maintained.

The Temporary Government Working Group for the Prevention and Control of COVID-19 also held a session via videoconference, attended by members of the Political Bureau, Esteban Lazo Hernández, president of the National Assembly of People's Power, and Salvador Valdés Mesa, Vice President of the Republic.

Vice Prime Minister Ricardo Cabrisas Ruiz, as well as ministers and other authorities, also participated in the exchange with the political and government authorities of the 15 provinces and the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud.