Cuban COVID-19 vaccines Abdala and Soberana
Vacunas cubanas Abdala y Soberana contra la COVID-19
- Date
- julio-agosto de 2021 · confidence high
- Place
- Havana, Cuba
- Credited to
- Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (Abdala) and Finlay Vaccine Institute (Soberana)
- Field
- Life & health
What it is
Protein-subunit vaccines based on the coronavirus receptor-binding domain, without an mRNA platform. Abdala was authorised in July 2021 and Soberana 02 in August, the first developed in Latin America.
Emergency authorisation by the Cuban regulator (CECMED); the reported efficacy (around 92% for Abdala) was based mainly on domestic data and not independently reviewed by the WHO at the time.
What it led to
- Vaccination of the Cuban population without imports
- Exports to Venezuela, Vietnam and other countries
- Expanded conjugate vaccine capacity