Cuba waits for US and WHO to approve its vaccines

Cuba health authorities on Tuesday called a U.S. decision on travel rules for some vaccinated people "unfair", as the lift of restrictions does not currently apply to those inoculated Cuban vaccines.

The U.S. will accept travelers fully vaccinated with any of those listed by emergency use by the World Health Organization.

The protocol leaves out those vaccines still under review, including the vaccines used to immunize people in Cuba.

The Health Minister of Cuba, José Ángel Portal, said Cuba will recognize all vaccines approved by foreign regulatory agencies.

Martínez said they have already met with WHO authorities to seek approval of the vaccines produced by BioCubaFarma, Cuba's vaccine manufacturer.

Eduardo Martínez, President of BioCubaFarma, said Vietnam, Iran, Venezuela and Nicaragua had already initiated negotiations to buy doses.

According to local health authorities, Cuba could have already fully vaccinated 90% of its population by November.

More than  22.9  million people had already received at least one shot of the multiple vaccines developed by Cuba.

Cuba is the only country in Latin America that has developed its own vaccines.

Abdala vaccine and the combination of Soberana 02 and Soberana Plus are applied in three doses and, according to local experts, their effectiveness is greater than 90%.

A fourth vaccine candidate, a needleless nasal spray named Mambisa, is undergoing clinical trials.