Cuba to transfer Covid vaccine production tech to Vietnam

In a telephonic conference, PM Pham Minh Chinh and Cuban PM Manuel Marrero Cruz shared the two countries' experience in fighting the coronavirus pandemic and discussed cooperation regarding vaccine production and supply, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The two agreed to instruct relevant authorities to exchange information and cooperate to reach vaccine supply agreements and transfer Covid-19 vaccine production technologies from Cuba to Vietnam.

Chinh thanked the Cuban government for sending medical experts to Vietnam to help with the Covid-19 fight, as well as for supplying Vietnam with Covid-19 drugs.

Manuel affirmed Cuba always appreciates the valuable experience Vietnam's Doi Moi period provided to Cuba. The latter plans to cooperate with Vietnam in several fields, including supplying Covid-19 vaccines and transferring vaccine production technologies to the nation.

Vietnam would cooperate with Cuba to produce a Cuban Covid-19 vaccine called Abdala after the Institute of Vaccines and Medical Biologicals (IVAC) receives the necessary production tech.

The Abdala vaccine, which has passed all three phases of human trials, has yet to undergo clinical trials in any other country, Cuban Minister of Public Health Jose Angel Portal Miranda said last month. The vaccine requires three shots, spaced 14 days apart. It could be stored at between 2-8 degrees Celsius, he added.

Initial trial results showed the vaccine is effective against certain coronavirus variants (Beta and Gamma), safe to use, and immunogenic.

Cuba is willing to cooperate with Vietnam on vaccine supply and tech transfer to produce it, said Miranda, adding it could even open two production facilities in Vietnam in case of high demand.

Vietnam is looking to secure 150 million doses this year to cover 70 percent of its population.

Over 3.6 million people have been vaccinated in the country so far, with more than 204,000 having already received two shots.