In a first, Cuba begins COVID-19 vaccination for toddlers

In a first, Cuba begins COVID-19 vaccination for toddlers

The country with a population of around eleven million is famous for its healthcare system.

Cuba has become the first country in the world to vaccinate children as young as two years old.

However, the jabs given to infants are homegrown which has not been recognised by the World Health Organization(WHO).

Clinical trials on minors were conducted on Friday and vaccines for the toddlers were distributed on Monday, reports claimed.

The country with a population of around eleven million is famous for its healthcare system. Cuban authorities hope to vaccinate all children as schools reopen.

In a first, Cuba begins COVID-19 vaccination for toddlers
Cuba gets new leader Miguel Diaz-Canel as last Castro retires

"It has been a very rigorous process, where all the information presented from all the clinical trials that have been carried out in this type of paediatric population has been evaluated," Olga Lidia Jacobo, director of Cuban regulatory authority, said.

"The results have been very favourable, demonstrating that the vaccine in the paediatric population also has an adequate safety profile and adequate immunogenicity," Jacobo added.

The authorities had completed clinical trials on minors with Abdala and Soberana vaccines as they began the inoculation campaign for children initially on Friday.

On Monday, health officials began inoculating 2-11 age group kids in the central province of Cienfuegos.

Several countries had proposed to vaccinate younger children but have not yet been rolled out the vaccine. Earlier, China had announced the emergency use of Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccine for children over 3 years as the United Arab Emirates soon followed suit with the approval of the Sinopharm vaccine.

Chile has also approved the Chinese Sinovac vaccines for children between six and 12.

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
Indians In Gulf
www.indiansingulf.in