While Argentina, C Level Contact List Bolivia and Mexico also use vaccines from Russia, these have so far not reached the Caribbean: not even Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, the first country in the region to approve the Sputnik V vaccine. The C Level Contact List great singularity in Caribbean vaccine diplomacy is Cuba. The socialist government did not import vaccines, even though it could certainly have obtained them from China or Russia. On the contrary, Havana is totally gambling on self-sufficiency. Despite the general economic crisis, medical technology and biotechnology remain modern and efficient sectors. The government is proud that Cuba is the only Latin C Level Contact List American country that has developed its own vaccines.
The most advanced (Soberana 2) is currently in C Level Contact List phase 3 testing with 44,000 people in Cuba and another test group in Iran. If these tests are successful – as expected – the nationwide vaccination campaign could start in the second quarter. And then C Level Contact List there is the great hope: that the Cuban vaccine will be an export success and a source of foreign exchange. 100 million doses will be produced by the end of the year, as announced. A C Level Contact List video has already been filmed that invites foreigners to spend their vacations in Cuba "with sun, beach and vaccination."
Of course, there is also talk of the intention to help other C Level Contact List countries in Latin America, Africa and Asia with solidarity deliveries of free vaccines. Cuba had very low infection rates during 2020. Since January, however, the spread of the virus has greatly C Level Contact List accelerated. In addition to the precarious supply situation, there is also a tense epidemiological situation. The total commitment to self-sufficiency – and, therefore, also to reject all imports C Level Contact List of vaccines – is a high-risk strategy and many unknowns. How effective will the vaccine be and how safe?