No matter what they call them -- syringes or needles or jabs -- many people in America and Europe have been promoting, for months now, the collection of financial resources in order to send to Cuba a package of basic inputs to deploy its awaited vaccination against COVID-19.

by Roberto Morejón

No matter what they call them -- syringes or needles or jabs -- many people in the Americas and Europe have been promoting, for months now, the collection of financial resources in order to send to Cuba a package of basic inputs to deploy its awaited vaccination against COVID-19.

The altruistic and praiseworthy effort is part of the solidarity campaign of Europeans, Latin Americans, Cubans living abroad, trade unions, political parties, friendship associations and other sources.

The promoters understand the difficult circumstances Cuba's economy is going through in the face of the intensified U.S. blockade.

The island is also suffering the after-effects of the pandemic on its economy largely sustained by tourism, but there was a 95% decrease in this sector in 2020.

Material limitations result in no few shortages, such as those of several medicines, which interferes with the exemplary and successful work of local scientists that have so far created five vaccine candidates against COVID-19, two of which are currently in phase three trials.

In view of the confidence provided by the immunizers and the promising results of the studies conducted thus far, the Cuban Ministry of Health is promoting a sanitary intervention with the vaccine candidates Soberana 02 and Abdala, in places and groups at risk, without reporting important after-effects.

In the midst of this procedure, which is being promoted as a clockwork mechanism by the health authorities and considering a vaccination prospect of nearly 70 % of the population by August, the need for more basic supplies shows up.

Hence the importance of this gesture of love and solidarity of so many people around the world to send millions of syringes to the Caribbean nation.

The Cuban people, who are receiving the arrival of the first shipments, have expressed their gratitude and emphasize that the successful progress of the local vaccine candidates will also benefit other peoples around the world.