Abdala vaccine to benefit vulnerable groups in the country

HAVANA, Cuba, Jul 20 (ACN) The Abdala vaccine, obtained by the Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (CIGB by its Spanish acronym), will benefit pregnant women in the second and third trimester of gestation and infants, as well as people allergic to thiomersal in the coming months.

Verena Muzio, director of Clinical Research at the scientific institution, said today that they have already submitted to the Center for State Control of Medicines, Equipment and Medical Devices the necessary documentation to evaluate the safety of the drug in the first group vulnerable to COVID-19.

Starting in August, thiomersal-free single doses will be produced in order to start, in September, the vaccination of the persons who could not receive the immunogen, she said.

At Mesa Redonda program, Muzio highlighted that Abdala, with an efficacy of 92.28 %, received authorization for emergency use last July 9, and this makes it possible to extend the immunization to other population segments excluded from the clinical trial and health interventions.

The doctor urged to complete the three-dose schedule, because the immune response to the novel coronavirus increases between 14 and 28 days after the inoculation of the last dose.

She also emphasized the importance of this process for collective immunity and stressed that Cuba has sufficient technological sovereignty to achieve high vaccination coverage.

The researcher pointed out that on July 13, the clinical study for convalescents with the vaccine candidate Mambisa, with three devices for its application, was launched by the National Coordinating Center for Clinical Trials.